Nucleic acid probes for the detection and identification of fungi

ABSTRACT

Nucleic acid probes and primers are described for detecting fungi that cause disease in humans and animals, as well as spoilage of food and beverages. These probes can detect rRNA, rDNA or polymerase chain reaction products from a majority of fungi in clinical, environmental or food samples. Nucleic acid hybridization assay probes specific for Acremonium sp.,  Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus unguis, Aspergillus ustus,  Beauveria sp., Bipolaris sp., Blastoschizomyces sp.,  Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis,  Chrysosporium sp., Cladosporium sp.,  Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans  var gattii serotype B,  Cryptococcus neoformans  serotype A,  Cryptococcus laurentii, Cryptococcus terreus,  Curvularia sp., Fusarium sp.,  Filobasidium capsuligenum, Filobasidiella  (Cryptococcus)  neoformans  var bacillispora serotype C,  Filobasidiella  (Cryptococcus)  neoformans  var neoformans serotype D,  Filobasidium uniguttulatum,  Geotrichum sp.,  Histoplasma capsulatum,  Malbranchea sp., Mucor sp., Paecilomyces sp.,  Paracoccidioides brasiliensis,  Penicillium species,  Pneumocystis carinii, Pseudallescheria boydii,  Rhizopus sp.,  Sporothrix schenkii, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Scopulariopsis brumpti, Saccharomyces cerevisiae,  and  Trichosporon beigelii  are also described.

This application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 08/373,127 filed Jan. 13, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,169 and a C-I-P of Ser. No. 08/435,684 filed May 15, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,802.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The inventions described and claimed herein relate to the design and composition of two nucleic acid probes capable of detecting many different fungal organisms in clinical, food, environmental and other samples. The inventions described and claimed herein also relate to the design and composition of probes capable of specifically detecting and identifying Acremonium sp., Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus unguis, Aspergillus ustus, Beauveria sp., Bipolaris sp., Blastoschizomyces sp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Chrysosporium sp., Cladosporium sp., Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii serotype B, Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A, Cryptococcus laurentii, Cryptococcus terreus, Curvularia sp., Fusarium sp., Filobasidium capsuligenum, Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var bacillispora serotype C, Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var neoformans serotype D, Filobasidium uniguttulatum, Geotrichum sp., Histoplasma capsulatum, Malbranchea sp., Mucor sp., Paecilomyces sp., Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Penicillium species, Pneumocystis carinii, Pseudallescheria boydii, Rhizopus sp., Sporothrix schenkii, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis sp., Scopulariopsis brumpti, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Trichosporon beigelii in clinical, food, environmental and other samples.

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms that are universally distributed. While in nature fungi play a major role in the decomposition of plant materials, they are also responsible for spoilage of food, beverage and pharmaceutical preparations. Out of an estimated 100,000 species of fungi described by mycologists, approximately 150 species are pathogenic to man and animals. The increasing incidence of AIDS and the development of newer treatments for hematologic malignancies and organ transplants has lead to an increase in the number of immunocompromised patients. These patients have a high risk of developing fungal infections, which if not rapidly diagnosed and treated are capable of causing death in a matter of days. The number of antifungal drugs is limited and their toxic side effects on the patient are much higher than that of comparable antibacterial therapy. A rapid diagnosis of fungal infection and start of treatment is critical in these patients. Books by Kwon-Chung and Bennett, along with Sarosi and Davies, provide an overview into the medical importance of fungi.

Fungal organisms are identified by morphology and nutritional characteristics. Fungi may take anywhere from two days to several weeks to grow in culture and often the same organism can take radically different forms depending on the growth conditions. This makes timely identification difficult even for the classically trained expert and impedes the treatment of patients where rapid identification of genus and species is of medical advantage.

The incidence and distribution of major pathogenic fungi varies by geographic location. Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Pseudallescheria boydii and Sporothrix schenkii represent some of the leading causes of mycotic infections.

Aspergillus fumigatus is among the top three causes of systemic fungal infection treated in hospitals. It usually affects patients with organ transplants, acute leukemias and burns and can be rapidly fatal if not diagnosed quickly. With over 150 species of Aspergillus present in the soil, air and water, accurate detection of Aspergillus fumigatus becomes extremely important. Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus unguis and Aspergillus ustus represent a majority of Aspergillus species seen in clinical specimens and their presence can cause diagnostic difficulties. Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger have been linked with disease in humans, with Aspergillus fumigatus being the predominant pathogen in North America. A few immunologic tests exist for Aspergillus fumigatus but these have limited sensitivity and specificity. There are also reports of development of polymerase chain reaction based tests for Aspergillus fumigatus based on the amplification of the Asp fl antigen gene and a ribosomal intergenic spacer (Spreadbury et. al.). The Spreadbury technique is based on the PCR amplification of a 401 bp fragment spanning the large subunit rRNA/intergenic spacer region. This relies on a pair of primers to specifically amplify DNA from Aspergillus fumigatus only, and is of no utility in identifying other fungi.

Blastomyces dermatitidis is present in the soil, usually in bird droppings and animal feces. Infections often occur at construction sites and the ensuing lung infiltration and pneumonitis are usually fatal in immunocompromised patients. Diagnosis by culture may take weeks, and the organism is occasionally mistaken for other fungi. Existing immunological diagnostic tests are unreliable, and there is a need for rapid and reliable DNA based diagnostic tests. Similarly, Histoplasma capsulatum exists in the soil and is known to have infected at least 20% of the population of North America. Most infections start in the lung and resolve spontaneously, but may occasionally spread to other organs. AIDS patients represent a growing number of cases of Histoplasmosis. Diagnosis is difficult as immunological tests are often negative during the first 4-6 weeks of infection. Coccidioides immitis is found in abundance in the soil in Southwestern United States. Dust storms, farming, building construction, earthquakes and even hiking have been linked with outbreaks of disease. Lung infection followed by cavitation and disseminated miliary coccidioidomycosis are seen. Meningitis is usually lethal, and as with other fungi, mortality is highest in debilitated hosts. Four serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans cause disease in humans. These are Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A, Cryptococcus neoformans var gatti serotype B, Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var bacillispora serotype C and Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var. neoformans serotype D. The incidence of this disease is growing rapidly, with up to 10% of HIV infected people developing cyptococcosis. DNA probes capable of detecting all 4 serotypes are required for the early diagnosis and treatment for life threatening infections like cryptococcal meningitis. A report by Stockman et. al. discusses commercial tests for Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, and Cryptococcus based on the 18S rRNA (Gen-Probe, Inc., San Diego, Calif.). The authors report sensitivities ranging from 87.8 to 100% and a specificity of 100%. One drawback of these probes is that these are used on rRNA extracted from fungal cultures. As some fungi may require up to 3 weeks to grow in culture, this technique cannot be used to expedite diagnosis until a culture becomes available.

Candida albicans is one of the most common causes of fungal infection in humans. It is present in the respiratory, gastrointestinal and female genital tract of healthy individuals, and acts as an opportunistic pathogen in debilitated individuals on steroid or chemotherapy. Diabetes mellitus and indwelling catheters are other predisposing causes. Immunocompromised hosts show rapid hematogenous spread of fungi. Morbidity and mortality in untreated cases is high. Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis are also known to cause disease in humans. DNA probes capable of identifying these individual species would eliminate the need for multiple blood cultures and lengthy biochemical speciation.

Paracoccidioidomycosis, which is a deep-seated systemic infection of humans, is a major health problem in Central and South America. The disease is caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a thermally dimorphic fungus. Classically, diagnosis has been made by detecting yeast cells with multiple buds, the distinctive “pilots wheel” morphology. Unfortunately, such forms are not always observed in clinical materials. Histologically, the yeast form of this species is sometimes difficult to distinguish from that of Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, and P. loboi. While P. brasilienis produces a glycoprotein antigen than is also diagnostic, the antigen is also produced by P. loboi. P. brasilienis can be cultured in vitro; however P. loboi cannot be cultured. P. brasiliensis is a slow growing organism that can take one to three weeks to culture for identification. Clearly, the existence of a species specific probe against P. brasiliensis would be of significant value for rapid detection and identification.

Pneumocystis carinii is a common and major opportunistic pathogenic fungus that infects immunocompromised patients. More than 80% of HIV infected patients will develop P. carinii pneumonia if not prophylactically treated to prevent infection. Therefore, this fungus is widely recognized as one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients. To date, polymerase chain reaction primers directed at six different gene targets have been developed. These include 5S and 18 rDNA genes, an intragenic transcribed spacer sequence between ribosomal genes, thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase, and large ribosomal rDNA gene of mitochondria. However, each set of primers requires a unique and specific set of PCR conditions to function optimally (Lu et al., J. Clin. Microbial. 33:2785-2788, 1995).

Recent advances in molecular techniques have led to the approach of microbe detection and identification based upon the DNA sequence of ribosomal genes. Commonly used detection techniques include either direct amplification of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes by the polymerase chain reaction, or reverse transcription of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) into complementary DNA (cDNA) followed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the cDNA. Ribosomes are composites of unique rRNA and protein species that function in the translation of messenger RNA into protein. Evolutionary studies are consistent with the interpretation that all extant life has evolved from a single organism. Thus, all cellular organisms contain rRNA and these rRNAs are related by evolution. The evolutionary process is such that each species of organism appears to have unique regions of sequence in its ribosomal genes. The presence of these unique species specific regions allows one to design DNA probes that under conditions of hybridization will specifically bind to, and identify the polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA from only one species of fungus. For the purposes of this application, the word “primer” is used to mean a nucleotide sequence which can be extended by template-directed polymerization, and “probe” is used to mean a nucleotide sequence capable of detecting its complementary sequence by hybridization. Also, for the purpose of this application, the phrase “nucleotide sequence” is intended to include either DNA or RNA forms or modification thereof. Furthermore, those versed in the art will recognize that primer sequences can be used as probes and vice versa. The use of nucleic acid hybridization to detect specific nucleic acid sequences of interest is also described by Kohne (U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,330, 7/1989).

In prokaryotes and eukaryotes, ribosomal RNA and the corresponding rDNA genes are identified by the size of the RNA. The sizes are related in terms of sedimentation velocity or S values. Thus, for prokaryotes the values are 5S, 16S, and 23S; and for eukaryotes the values are 5S, 5.8S, 18S and 28S. Because all ribosomes perform the same function which is essential for cell viability, ribosomal sequences are largely conserved, yet certain regions of each ribosomal species are subject to more variation without consequence to function. It is these hypervariable regions that allow one to identify different species amongst members of the same genus. As noted in the references, there are several reports where 5S, 18S and the intergenic spacer between 5.8S and 28S rDNA have been used for the detection and identification of fungi (Holmes et. al., Hopfer et. al., Lott et. al., Maiwald et. al., Makimura et. al., Mitchell et. al., Nakamura et. al.). Holmes et. al. describe a PCR test based on the co-amplification of the 5S rDNA and an adjacent nontranscribed spacer region. This identifies only Candida albicans and detects other Candida species without identifying individual organisms. Hopfer et. al. and Maiwald et. al. both use universal primers to amplify 18S rDNA from several fungi including Candida sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichosporon sp. These amplicons are digested with restriction enzymes and the cut fragments are sized by gel electrophoresis. This restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern enables them to identify most but not all organisms. This technique can be used on amplified DNA from a pure fungal culture. As clinical samples such as sputum usually contain multiple fungal organisms, this technique has little utility in diagnosis as multiple overlapping fragments obtained from a mix of fungi would be nearly impossible to interpret. Lott et. al. use the 5.8S RNA and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) to identify and speciate Candida albicans and related Candida species. Makimura amplifies a 687 bp fragment from the 18S rDNA of 25 medically important fungi and uses these in the diagnosis of Candida albicans in clinical samples. Mitchell uses nested PCR to amplify 5.8S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) to identify Cryptococcus neoformans. No subsequent testing is done to verify the identity of the amplified DNA. Nakamura et. al. use 18S primers to detect Aspergillus fumigatus infections of the lung. Most protocols given in these references can only be used to detect an extremely limited number of fungi from a clinical specimen. Hopfer et. al. and Maiwald et. al. can identify multiple organisms from pure cultures, but their utility for clinical specimens containing multiple fungal species is limited at best.

United States patents have been issued to Weisburg et. al. for probes developed for the detection of 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA sequences in fungi. These probes will detect fungi from many species, but cannot be used easily to identify any single species. United States patents have also been issued to Milliman for probes developed for the specific detection of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus based on the 16S ribosomal sequences. Hogan et. al. (European Pat. App. 0,272,009) describe one fungal probe for 18S rRNA and three fungal probes for 28S rRNA sequences. Two of these 28S probes detect several different fungi while the third probe detects Candida krusei from a limited panel of 10 fungi. None of the 28S probes described by Hogan et. al. is related to any of the probes described in our invention. All probes claimed in our invention can be mapped within the first 900 base pairs of a 28S gene. The probes described by Hogan et. al. are located further 3′ on the 28S sequence, between base pairs 1000 and 2000 (these numbers are comparable to the primary sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae 28S rRNA gene. Genbank accession number: J01355). Leclerc et. al. have published reports analyzing the phylogenetic relationship between fungi based on partial DNA sequences of several fungal 28S genes sequenced by them. Some of the organisms claimed to have been sequenced by Leclerc are the same as some organisms sequenced by us. These are Sporothrix schenckii, Pseudallescheria boydii, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum and Chrysosporium sp. Leclerc et. al. have not published any sequence data in their report, and to the best of our knowledge, they have not made these sequences publicly available. The reverse-complement sequence of their sequencing primer 401 (TCCCTTTCAA CAATTTCACG) overlaps our SEQ ID NO: 1 (GTGAAATTGT TGAAAGGGAA) by 19 nucleotides and their sequencing primer 636 (GGTCCGTGTT TCAAGACGG) overlaps our SEQ ID NO: 2 (GACTCCTTGG TCCGTGTT) by 10 nucleotides. We are aware of no reports in the literature of variable regions from 28S rRNA genes of fungi being used as targets for the development of species specific diagnostic probes.

As discussed above, most present techniques for the molecular detection of fungi rely on the use of highly specific primers for the PCR amplification of only one fungal species. Those that employ “Universal” primers for a PCR amplification of DNA from multiple organisms, use post-PCR amplicon identification techniques that are useful only on pure cultures of fungi. These are not be able to identify fungi from a clinical specimen containing multiple fungal organisms. Our first aim was to develop “Universal” primers for the 28S gene. These primers would be capable of amplifying in a PCR, 28S rDNA from most fungi. Our subsequent aim was to develop species specific probes for fungi of interest, that would be used to analyze our “Universal” 28S amplicon. These species specific probes would be able to detect the presence of fungi of interest even in situations containing mixed fungal species.

One aspect of this invention is to provide nucleic acid primers capable of detecting 28S sequences from DNA or RNA of most fungi. These would be used as “Universal” primers in a polymerase chain reaction to amplify 28S sequences from any fungus present in clinical, food, environmental or other samples. These “Universal” primers would also be used to sequence the amplified DNA. The sequence obtained would be used to identify the fungus by comparing with a database of known fungal sequences.

A second aspect of this invention is to provide nucleic acid probes capable of detecting and identifying, by nucleic acid hybridization, the pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Pneumocystis carinii, Pseudallescheria boydii, Sporothrix schenckii and other species by use of any of several different formats. Additionally, nucleotide sequence information is provided to identify these pathogens and other fungi by DNA sequence comparison (Table 3) or by the construction of additional probes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Nucleic acid probes and primers are described for detecting fungi that cause disease in humans and animals, as well as spoilage of food and beverages. These probes can detect rRNA, rDNA or polymerase chain reaction products from a majority of fungi in clinical, environmental or food samples. Nucleic acid hybridization assay probes specific for Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Pneumocystis carinii, Pseudallescheria boydii, Sporothrix schenckii and other species (Table 1 and Table 3) are also described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 represents the relative position of the sequences described on the 28S subunit of fungi.

DETAILS OF THE INVENTION

Our first objective was to develop nucleic acid primers for use in a polymerase chain reaction to amplify 28S genes from all fungi likely to be present in a clinical sample. This amplified DNA would then be amenable to probing with several different species specific probes. Each one of these species specific probes would, under conditions of hybridization, anneal to 28S ribosomal DNA from only one species of fungus, thereby detecting and identifying the species of fungus present in the clinical sample. The 28S gene was selected as a target because it had regions that were conserved among fungi and these would provide potential annealing sites for “universal” fungal probes. The ribosomal 28S genes were also expected to have hypervariable regions that would be unique enough to provide sites for species specific probes. The large rRNA gene is called the 23S rRNA gene in prokaryotes and 28S in eukaryotes. This designation is based on the length and therefore the sedimentation coefficient of these rRNA molecules. Fungal large subunit rRNAs vary in size among different organisms and are often referred to as being 25S, 26S or 28S. Since fungi are eukaryotes, and to maintain uniformity in this application, we shall refer to fungal large subunit rRNA as 28S rRNA.

Published sequences from Cryptococcus neoformans, two Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and two Schizosaccharomyces pombe 28S genes are approximately 3.5 kilobases in length (Genbank accession numbers: L14068, L28817, X70659, J01355, Z19136 & Z19578). These four sequences were aligned, and a region of sequence variability was found clustered between coordinates 200 and 700 from the 5′ end of these genes. As an initial starting point, two nucleic acid primers P1 (ATCAATAAGC GGAGGAAAAG) (SEQ ID NO: 79) and P2 (CTCTGGCTTC ACCCTATTC) (SEQ ID NO: 80) (see FIG. 1), capable of hybridizing to all 4 of the above mentioned organisms and not to human 28S sequences (GenBank accession number: M11167), were designed and used under low stringency hybridization conditions in a polymerase chain reaction to amplify approximately 800 base pairs of DNA spanning this hypervariable region from the following 34 fungi that were obtained from the Mayo Clinic fungal collection: Acremonium sp., Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus unguis, Aspergillus ustus, Beauvaria sp., Bipolaris sp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Chrysosporium sp., Cladosporium sp., Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A, Curvularia sp., Geotrichum sp., Histoplasma capsulatum, Mucor sp., Penicillium sp., Pseudallescheria boydii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sporothrix schenkii and Trichosporon beigelii.

DNA was extracted from the fungi listed above by the following method. A loopful of fungal culture was scraped off a culture plate using a sterile inoculation loop. The fungus was added one milliliter of sterile water in a 1.5 ml Sarsted (Newton, N.C.) screw cap microcentrifuge tube. This tube was placed in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes in order to lyse the fungus and release DNA from the cells. Two microliters of this whole cell lysate was used in a PCR to amplify 28S rDNA. All PCR amplifications were carried out as hot-start reactions in a 50 ul reaction volume using Perkin-Elmer (Norwalk, Conn.) 0.5 ml thin-wall polypropylene tubes and a Perkin-Elmer thermal cycler. Reagents added to the tube initially were 2.5 ul of 10× PCR buffer (100 mM tris pH 8.3, 500 mM KCl, 15 mM MgCl₂), 5.0 ul of 50% glycerol/1 mM cresol red, 8.0 ul of dNTP mix (1.25 mM each of DATP, dGTP, dTTP and dCTP), 12 picomoles of each nucleic acid primer and sterile water to make up a volume of 25 ul. A wax bead (Ampliwax Gem-100, Perkin-Elmer) was added and the tubes heated to 77° C. for 1 minute and cooled to room temperature to form a wax barrier. 2.5 ul of 10× PCR buffer, 5.0 ul of 50% glycerol/1 mM cresol red, 0.2 ul Taq polymerase (AmpliTaq 5U/ul, Perkin-Elmer) and 15.3 ul of sterile water was added to the tube along with 2.0 ul of DNA from the fungal whole cell lysate described above. 50 cycles of thermal cycling was carried out at 94° C.—30 sec, 40° C.—1 min, 72° C.—2 min. The amplified DNA was electrophoresed and purified from a low melt agarose gel by tris buffered phenol pH 8.0, phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1 by vol.) and 3 ether extractions, followed by isopropanol precipitation and 70% ethanol wash.

We completely sequenced both strands of DNA amplified from the organisms listed above. All sequencing was carried out on an Applied Biosystems 373A sequencer. Every nucleotide in the sequences generated was verified and confirmed by examining the complementary nucleotide from the second strand sequence. We had now created a novel database consisting of nucleic acid sequences spanning a variable region of the 28S rDNA from a diverse collection of medically important fungi.

While the complete sequences for Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 28S genes had previously been published and deposited in GenBank, it was not obvious, nor had it been defined, whether any regions of sequence identity among these three organisms would also be conserved among all fungi of interest. DNA sequences from all the fungi in our novel 28S database had to be analyzed in order to develop “Universal” 28S probes. All sequences were subjected to extensive manipulation to identify optimal relative alignments in order to identify regions of similarity for use as “Universal” probes. The selected probe sequences had to meet several important criteria besides the condition of being present in 28S genes from most fungal species. Each probe sequence required an appropriate thermal profile, secondary structure and utility in a DNA amplification reaction. These probes were optimized to work for PCR amplification in pure cultures of fungus, as well as in the presence of DNA from multiple sources as in the case of clinical specimens. The probes were also designed to facilitate direct sequencing of the amplified DNA. Our analysis led to the discovery of the oligonucleotide probes listed in (SEQ ID NO: 1) and (SEQ ID NO: 2). (For their location, see FIG. 1.) The successful identification of these two probes ((SEQ ID NO: 1) and (SEQ ID NO: 2)) completed our first objective to develop nucleic acid probes that would hybridize to, and detect 28S rRNA and rDNA from a majority of fungi (FIG. 1 and Table 1). As shown later in this application, the novel sequence information generated by the use of our “Universal” probes allowed us to develop species-specific probes ((SEQ ID NO: 3) to (SEQ ID NO: 23), (SEQ ID NO: 75) and (SEQ ID NO: 76)) capable of identifying 21 different disease-causing fungi.

TABLE 1 Presence of hybridization sites for probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 in 28S nucleic acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ ID NO: 2 Acremonium sp. + + Aspergillus clavatus + + Aspergillus flavus + + Aspergillus fumigatus + + Aspergillus glaucus + + Aspergillus nidulans + + Aspergillus niger + + Aspergillus ochraceus + + Aspergillus terreus + + Aspergillus unguis + + Aspergillus ustus + + Beauvaria sp. + + Bipolaris sp. + + Blastomyces dermatitidis + + Blastoschizomyces sp. + + Candida albicans + + Candida glabrata + + Candida guilliermondii + + Candida kefyr + + Candida krusei + + Candida lusitaniae + + Candida parapsilosis + + Candida tropicalis + + Chrysosporium sp. + + Cladosporium sp. + + Coccidioides immitis + + Cryptococcus laurentii + + Cryptococcus neoformans serotype + + A Cryptococcus neoformans var. + + gattii serotype B Cryptococcus terreus + + Curvularia sp. + + Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) + + neoformans var bacillispora serotype C Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) + + neoformans var neoformans serotype D Filobasidium capsuligenum + + Filobasidium uniguttulatum + + Fusarium sp. + + Geotrichum sp. + + Histoplasma capsulatum + + Malbranchea sp. + + Mucor sp. + + Paecilomyces sp. + + Penicillium sp. + + Pseudallescheria boydii + + Rhizopus sp. + + Saccharomyces cerevisiae + + Scopulariopsis brevicaulis + + Scopulariopsis brumptii + + Sporothrix schenckii + + Trichosporon beigelii + + Paracoccidioides brasiliensis + + Pneumocystis carinii + + Human − +

Probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 were used to successfully amplify (Table 2) and sequence DNA (Table 3) spanning this variable region from the following 51 organisms: Acremonium sp., Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus unguis, Aspergillus ustus, Beauvaria sp., Bipolaris sp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, Blastoschizomyces sp., Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Chrysosporium sp., Cladosporium sp., Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A, Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii serotype B, Cryptococcus terreus, Cryptococcus laurentii, Curvularia sp., Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var bacillispora serotype C, Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var neoformans serotype D, Filobasidium capsuligenum, Filobasidium uniguttulatum, Fusarium sp., Geotrichum sp., Histoplasma capsulatum, Maibranchea sp., Mucor sp., Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp., Pseudallescheria boydii, Rhizopus sp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Scopulariopsis brumptii, Sporothrix schenkii, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Pneumocystis carinii, and Trichosporon beigelii. This list contains all 4 serotypes (A, B, C and D) of Cryptococcus neoformans. This sequence information generated by the use of probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 expanded the size of our database consisting of fungal 28S sequences. All amplified DNA was sequenced across both strands from a minimum of two different isolates of each organism to ensure accuracy of the data generated.

TABLE 2 Polymerase chain reaction amplification of 28S rDNA with probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. PCR with SEQ ID NO: 1 & NO: 2 Acremonium sp. + Aspergillus clavatus + Aspergillus flavus + Aspergillus fumigatus + Aspergillus glaucus + Aspergillus nidulans + Aspergillus niger + Aspergillus ochraceus + Aspergillus terreus + Aspergillus unguis + Aspergillus ustus + Beauvaria sp. + Bipolaris sp. + Blastomyces dermatitidis + Blastoschizomyces sp. + Candida albicans + Candida glabrata + Candida guilliermondii + Candida kefyr + Candida krusei + Candida lusitaniae + Candida parapsilosis + Candida tropicalis + Chrysosporium sp. + Cladosporium sp. + Coccidioides immitis + Cryptococcus laurentii + Cryptococcus neoformans serotype + A Cryptococcus neoformans var. + gattii serotype B Cryptococcus terreus + Curvularia sp. + Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) + neoformans var bacillispora serotype C Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) + neoformans var neoformans serotype D Filobasidium capsuligenum + Filobasidium uniguttulatum + Fusarium sp. + Geotrichum sp. + Histoplasma capsulatum + Malbranchea sp. + Mucor sp. + Paecilomyces sp. + Penicillium sp. + Pseudallescheria boydii + Rhizopus sp. + Saccharomyces cerevisiae + Scopulariopsis brevicaulis + Scopulariopsis brumptii + Sporothrix schenckii + Trichosporon beigelii + Paracoccidioides brasiliensis + Pneumocystis carinii + Human −

This list of fungi sequenced by us represents organisms responsible for most cases of subcutaneous and deep mycotic infections in humans and also includes saprophytes (non-pathogenic fungi) commonly encountered in clinical isolates. Since the two probes (SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2) hybridize to 28S rDNA from all the fungi listed above, they are capable of diagnosing the presence of a majority of fungi that are likely to be present in a clinical specimen. They are believed to be primers for universally detecting fungi.

Probes listed in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 were also checked for their potential ability to hybridize to, and amplify (in a polymerase chain reaction) 23S sequences from bacteria by searching for hybridization sites among the 539 bacterial 23S genes listed in GenBank. Bacterial 23S rDNAs do not have suitable hybridization sites for SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 and these two probes should not be able to amplify bacterial DNA under stringent conditions.

Our second objective was to develop species specific probes, which under hybridization conditions, would detect Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Pneumocystis carinii, Pseudallescheria boydii, and Sporothrix schenckii. We used our database of fungal 28S nucleic acid sequences to create a multiple sequence alignment of all the organisms that we had sequenced. Every individual sequence was subjected to intensive comparison with all other sequences in our database in order to discover unique regions of sequence that would be present only in the fungus of interest, and would be absent in all other fungi. When unique stretches of sequence were identified, these were further analyzed for thermal profile and secondary structure. Each probe constructed by us will, under conditions of hybridization, specifically hybridize to and detect, nucleic acid sequence from the unique region of only one specific target fungus. Those versed in the art will recognize that specification of a single-stranded DNA sequence implies the utility of the complementary DNA sequence, as well as the two equivalent RNA sequences. Furthermore, sequences incorporating modification of any of the moieties comprising the nucleic acid (i.e., the base, the sugar or the backbone) are functional equivalents of the sequence. It should also be recognized that these additional sequences can potentially serve as probes or primers. Finally, those versed in the art recognize that comparisons of extensive DNA sequences provides enough variability and uniqueness to speciate organisms (Table 3).

The nucleic acid sequences for these species specific synthetic probes are listed in SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76. There are two probes specific for Cryptococcus neoformans, two probes specific for Sporothrix schenckii, and one probe each for Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Pneumocystis carinii, and Pseudallescheria boydii 28S rRNA and rDNA. (See Tables 4-8 and further discussion below.)

All species specific probes developed by us are novel and to the best of our knowledge have not been reported in the literature. While all 28S genes sequenced by us had several regions that were different among the various species analyzed, the regions that would function best as species specific probes under conditions of hybridization were not obvious. Extensive analysis of each 28S sequence yielded several potential probe sites. These were studied in detail to enable the selection of optimal unique sites for each probe, based on the need to obtain optimal hybridization characteristics under the test conditions. The highly specific hybridization characteristics of all probe sequences developed by us were then validated by experimental results. The prior existence in GenBank of sequences for Candida albicans and serotypes A and B (GenBank accession numbers L14067 and L14068) of Cryptococcus neoformans 28S genes was in itself not sufficient to enable even an individual versed in this field to develop specific probes for either of these two organisms. We had to obtain novel 28S sequence from Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A, Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii serotype B, Cryptococcus terreus, Cryptococcus laurentii, Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var bacillispora serotype C, Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var neoformans serotype D, Filobasidium capsuligenum and Filobasidium uniguttulatum before we were able to identify potential regions for the development of species specific probes for these two fungal organisms that would not cross react with the others listed above.

Our modification of the Chomczynski technique (see Example 2, below) allows us to obtain DNA from any clinical specimen, irrespective of source (see Table 10 for a variety of clinical specimens tested), within a 3 hour period. The PCR amplification and subsequent probing can be accomplished with ease within a 24 hour period. The final identification is therefore possible in a day as opposed to several days or weeks required by traditional methods. This speed and sensitivity of diagnosis can make a difference between life and death in debilitated patients battling fungal diseases of undetermined cause. Rapid diagnosis will allow physicians to immediately direct their therapy towards curing the identified causative fungus, rather than wait for days or weeks while the patient succumbs to an unknown fungus.

Our probes have the ability to pick out the correct target organism even in a mixed fungal infection because of their high level of specificity. The methods of Hopfer et. al. and Maiwald et. al., do not allow identification of individual species in a mixed fungal infection because restriction fragment length polymorphism results are nearly impossible to interpret when multiple organisms contribute to the restriction fragments. Their method can therefore only be used on a pure culture, and this also does not save any diagnostic time, because the fungus first has to be grown in culture.

The probes developed by us allow rapid species identification of a large number of pathogenic fungi by using multiple probes against only one PCR amplified fragment of DNA. Coupled with our modified DNA extraction technique and our ability to accurately diagnose in the case of mixed organisms, this strategy can provide the greatest amount of diagnostic information in the shortest amount of time. This diagnostic strategy is also amenable to automation, which can result in even greater savings in time, money and effort.

The sequences and the complement of the sequences claimed in this disclosure, along with any modifications to these sequences, may potentially be utilized in assays for the identification of fungi based on several existing methodologies, as well as future improvements and alterations of this technology. These techniques include, but are not limited to, assays based on hybridization, ligation, polymerization, depolymerization, sequencing, chemical degradation, enzymatic digestion, electrophoresis, chromatography and amplification. Furthermore, all such variations ultimately are based in some selection or amplification process, some ligand or some nucleic acid moiety that recognizes or utilizes the sequences (SEQ ID NO: 1) to (SEQ ID NO: 23), (SEQ ID NO: 75) and (SEQ ID NO: 76) claimed in this application. Such variations include but are not limited to use of a variety of linear or exponential target amplification schemes, such as, any of the myriad forms of PCR, the ligase chain reaction, Q-beta repliase, etc.; direct detection of species-specific nucleic acid purified or extracted from pure fungal culture using a probe selected from the group (SEQ ID NO: 3) to (SEQ ID NO: 23), (SEQ ID NO: 75) and (SEQ ID NO: 76); use of the complementary DNA forms of (SEQ ID NO: 1) to (SEQ ID NO: 23), (SEQ ID NO: 75) and (SEQ ID NO: 76); use of the RNA forms of these sequences and their complements; and use of derivatives of these DNA or RNA sequences by the addition of one or more reporter moieties from a variety of labels including nucleic acid sequences, proteins, signal generating ligands such as acridinium esters, and/or paramagnetic particles. These techniques may be utilized with DNA, RNA or modified derivatives used as either the target or the detection molecule.

In addition to the 25 sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76, we also describe an additional 53 sequences SEQ ID NO: 24 to SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 77 and SEQ ID NO: 78. These 53 sequences are inclusive of SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 and are shown as a multiple sequence alignment (Table 3) with coordinate 1 corresponding to base #431 of a reference S. cerevisiae 28S rRNA gene. (The numbers are comparable to the primary sequence of S. cerevisiae 28S rRNA gene. Genbank accession number: J01355). These sequences were obtained by amplifying and sequencing 28S rDNA from various fungi with primers SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. (SEQ ID NO: 1 corresponds to coordinates 403-422 and the SEQ ID NO: 2 corresponds to coordinates 645-662 of the reference S. cerevisiae gene).

An analysis of these aligned sequences enabled us to develop the species specific probes SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 and sites for these probes are shown underlined. These 53 aligned sequences contain sufficient variability, to enable a person versed in this art, to develop additional species specific hybridization probes in the 10-50 nucleotide length. Similarly, longer species specific hybridization probes encompassing the entire 200+ nucleotide length can also be envisioned. Species identification may also be accomplished by direct DNA sequence determination of any DNA amplified with primers SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. If the derived sequence matches approximately 98% or more of any sequence in SEQ ID NO: 24 to SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 77 and SEQ ID NO: 78, then the identity of the organism can be ascertained. Additionally, we recognize that parts of SEQ ID NO: 24 to SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 77 and SEQ ID NO: 78 may be specific for groups of fungi arranged phylogenetically at the level of genus or higher. SEQ ID NO: 24 to SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 77 and SEQ ID NO: 78, their complements, along with any modification to these sequences may also potentially be utilized in assays for the identification of fungi based on existing methodologies and future technologies as noted above for SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76.

TABLE 3 Multiple Sequence alignment for (SEQ ID NO: 24) through (SEQ ID NO: 74), (SEQ ID NO: 77) AND (SEQ ID NO: 78) 1                                                                         70 {Rhizo2} AGCCAGACTG GCTTGTCTGT AATCAATCTA GGCTTCG.GC CTGGATGCAC TTGCAGGCTA ..TGCCTGCC {Rhizo3} AGCCAGACTG GCTTGTCTGT AATCAGTCTA AGCTTCG.GC TTGGATGCAC TTGCAGGCTA ..TGCCTGCC {Rhizo1} AGCCAGACTG GCTTGTCTGT AATCAATCTA GGTTTCGTGC CTGGATGCAC TTGCAGACTA TTTGCCTGCC {Mucor_} AGPCAGACTG GTTTGACTGT AATCAAPCTA GAATTCGTTC .TGGGTGCAC TTGCAGTCTA ..TACCTGCC {C_Terr} AGTCAGTCAT GTCTATTGGA CTCAGPPGGT TCT......G CCGGTGTACT TCCTTTAGAT GGGGTCAAC. {F_Caps} AGTCAGTCAT GTCTATTGGA CTCAGCCGGT TCT......G CCGGTGTATT TCCTTTAGAT GGGGTCAAC. {F_Unig} AGTCAGTCGT GCTCAATGGA CTCAGCCG.. TTC......T GCGGTGTATT TCCATTGGGT GGGGTCAAC. {C_Neob} AGTCAGTCGT GTCTATTGGG TTCAGCCAGC TCT......G CTGGTGTATT CCCTTTAGA. CGGGTCAAC. {F_Neoc} AGTCAGTCGT GTCTATTGGG TTCAGCCAGC TCT......G CTGGTGTATT CCCTTTAGA. CGGGTCAAC. {F_Neod} AGTCAGTPGT GTCTATTGGG TTCAGPCAGT TCT......G CTGGTGTATT CCCTTTAGA. CGGGTCAAC. {C_Neog} AGTCAGTCGT GTCTATTGGG TTCAGPCAGT TCT......G CTGGTGTATT PPCTTTAGA. CGGGTCAAC. {T_Beig} AGTCAGTCGT GTTCTTTGGA TTCAGCCAGT TCT......G CTGGTCTACT TCCTTGGAA. CGGGTCAAC. {C_Laur} AGTCAGTCGT GTCTGGGAGG CTCAGCCGGT TCT......G CCGGTGTATT CCTCTCAGA. CGGGTCAAC. {Beauve} GAPCAGACTT GGGCTTGGTT GATCATPPGG GGTTC.TCC. CCGGTGCACT CTTCC.GGCC CAGGCCAGC. {Fusari} GACCAGACTT GGGCTTGGTT AATCATCTGG GGTTC.TCY. CCAGTGCACT TTTCC.AGTC CAGGCCAGC. {Acremo} GACCAGACTT GGGCTCGGTG AATCATCCGG CGTTC.TCG. CCGGTGCACT TTGCC.GTCC CAGGCCAGC. {Paecil} GACCAGACTT GGGCCCGGTG GATCATCCAG CGTTC.TCG. CTGGTGCACT CCGCCGGGTT CAGGCCAGC. {P_Boyd} GACCAGACTT GTGCCCGTCG AATCAGCCGC CGCTCGTCG. GCGGCGCACT TCGGCGGGCT CAGGCCAGC. {S_Brum} GACCAGACTC GCGCCCGTCG GATCAGCCGT CGCTCGTCG. GCGGCGCACT CCGGCGGGCT CGGGCCAGC. {S_Brev} GACCAGACTT GCGCCCGTCG GATCAACCGT CGCTTG.OG. GCGGCGCACT CCGGCGGGCT CAGGCCAGC. {Sporot} GACCAGACTT GCGCCYCGCG GACCACCCGG CGTTC.TCG. CCGGTGCACT CTGCGKKGCG CAGGCCAGC. {B_Derm} GACCAGAGTC GGCCGTGGGG GTTCAGCGGG CATTCGT.TG CCCGTGCACT CCCCCACGGG CGGGCCAGC. {H_Caps} GAYCAGAGTC GGCCGYGGGG GTTCAGCGGG CATTCGT.TG CCCGTGCAAT CCCCCGCGGC CGGGCCAGC. {A_Nidu} GACCAGACTC GGCCCC.GGG GTTCAROCAG CACTCG..TG CTGGTGTACT TCCCCGGGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Ungu} GACCAGACTC GGCCTC.GGG GTTCAGCCAG CACTCG..TG CTGGTGTACT TCCCCGGGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Ustu} GACCAGACTC GGCCCC.GGG GTTCAGCCAG CACTCG..TG CTGGTGTACT TCCCCGGGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Clav} GACCAGACTC GCTCGC.GGG GTTCAGCCGG CATTCG..TG CCGGTGTACT TCCCCGTGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Fumi} GACCAGACTC GCCCGC.GGG GTTCAGCCGG CATTCG..TG CCGGTGTACT TCCCCGTGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Flav} GACCAGACTC GCCTCC.AGG GTTCAGCCGG CATTCG..TG CCGGTGTACT TCCCTGGGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Ochr} GACCAGACTC GCCCGC.GGG GTTCAGCCGG CATTCG..TG CCGGTGTACT TCCCCGCGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Nige} GACCAGACTC GCCCGC.GGG GTTCAGCCGG CATTCG..TG CCGGTGTACT TCCCCGTGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Terr} AACCAGACTC GCTCGC.GGG GTTCAGCCGG GCTTCG..GC CCGGTGTACT TCCCCGCGGG CGGGCCAGC. {A_Glau} GACCAGACTC GCTTCC.GGG GTTCAGCCGG CTTTCG..GG CCGGTGTACT TCCCCGGGGG CGGGCCAGC. {Penici} GACCAGACTC GCCCAC.GGG GTTCAGCCGG CATTCG..TG CCGGTGTACT TCCCCGCGGG CGGGCCAGC. {C_Immi} AACCAGACTC GGTCGTGGGG GCTCAGCGGG CATGAGT.GC CCGTGTACTC CCCCATGCTC CGGGCCAGC. {Bipola} AGCCAGACTT GCTTGCAGTT GCTCATCCGG GCTTT.T.GC CCGGTGCACT CTTCTGCAGG CAGGCCAGC. {Curvul} AGCCAGACTT GCTTGCAGTT GCTCATCCGG GCTTT.T.GC CCGGTGCACT CTTCTGCAGG CAGGCCAGC. {Chryso} AACCAGACTT GCGCGCGGCC GATCATCCGG TGTTC.T.CA CCGGTGCACT CGGCCGTGCT CAGGICAGC. {Clados} AACCAGACTT GCTCGCGGT. GTTCCGCCGG TCTTC.T.GA CCGGTCTACT CGCCGCGTTG CAGGCCAGC. {Malbra} AGACAGACTC GAGCGCGGGG GCTCAGCGGG TATTGTTATG CCCGTGCACT CCCCCGCGCC CGGGCCAGC. {C_Para} GATCAGACTT GGTATTTTGT ATG..TTACT CTCTCGGGG. ..GTGGCCTC TACAGTTTAC CGGGCCAGC. {C_Trop} GATCAGACTT GGTATTTTGT ATG..TTACT TCTTCGGGG. ..GTGGCCTC TACAGTTTAT CGGGCCAGC. {C_Albi} GATCAGACTT GGTATTTTGC ATG..CTGCT CTCTCGGGG. ..GCGGCCGC TGCGGTTTAC CGGGCCAGC. {C_Quil} GATCAGACTC GATATTTTGT GAGCCTTGCC TTCGTGGCG. ..GGGTGACC CGCAGCTTAT CGGGCCAGC. {C_Glab} GATCAGACAT GGTGTTTTGC GCCCCTTGCC TCTCGTGGGC TTGGGACTCT CGCAGCTCAC TGGGCCAGC. {S_Cere} GATCAGACAT GGTGTTTTGT GCCCTCTGCT CCTTGTGGGT AGGGCAATCT CGCATTTCAC TGGGCCAGC. {C_Kefy} GATCAGACAT GGCGTTTGCT .......... .......... .........T CGGCTTTCGC TGGGCCAGC. {Geotri} AATCAGACTT GGTGCTGT.. .TGTTCAACT RTGTTTCGGC ATAGTGTACT CAGCAGTACT AGGCCAAGG. {C_Lusi} AAGCAGACAC GGT....... .......... .......... .......... .....TTTAC CGGGCCAGC. {C_Krus} CGCCCGACAT GGGGATTGCG CACCGCTGCC TCTCGTGGGC ..GGCGCTCT GGGCTTTCCC TGGGCCAGC. {Blasch} .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... {P_Braz} ACCAGAGTCG GCCGCGGGGG CTCAGCGGGC ACTCGT.TGC CCGTGCACTC CCCCGTC... .GTCGGGCCA {Pc_Hum} ATCAGACATG CCTTTATAGG AGATGCCATT GTT..TCGGC ATTGGCAGTA TTATCCGAAT TGGCAGGCCA 71                                                                       140 {Rhizo2} AACGACAATT TGACTTGAGG GAAAAAACTA GGGGAAATGT GGCC...... CACTTGTGGG TGTTATAGTC {Rhizo3} AACGACAATT TGGCTTGAGG GAAAAAACTA AGGGAAATGT GGCC...... CATCCGTGGG TGTTATAGTC {Rhizo1} AACGACAATT TTTTTTGAGT GTAAAAACTA TTGGAAATGT GGCCAATATT TATTTATTGG TGTTATAGTC {Mucor_} AACAACAGTT TGATTTGGAG GAAAAAATTA GTAGGAATGT AGCC...... ....TCTCGA GGTGTTATAG {C_Terr} .ATCAGTTTT .GATCGCTGG AAAAGGGCAG GAGGAATGTA GCACTC.TCG GGTGAACTTA TAGCCTTCTG {F_Caps} .ATCAGTTTT .GACCGTTGG ATAAAGGCAG GAAGAATGTA GCACTC.TCG GGTGAACTTA TAGCTTCTTG {F_Unig} .ATCAGTTTT .GATCGCTGG ATAAAGGCAG GAGGAATGTA GCACCC.CCG GGTGAACTTA TAGCCTCTTG {C_Neob} .ATCAGTTCT .GATCGGTGG ATAAGGGCTG GAGGAATGTG GCACTCTTCG GGGTGTGTTA TAGCCTCCTG {F_Neoc} .ATCAGTTCT .GATCGGTGG ATAAGGGCTG GAGGAATGTG GCACTCTTCG GGGTGTGTTA TAGCCTCCTG {F_Neod} .ATCAGTTCT .GATCGGTGG ATAAGGGCTG GAGGAATGTG GCACTCTTCG GGGTGTGTTA TAGCCTCCTG {C_Neof} .ATCAGTTCT .GATCGGTGG ATAAGGGCTG GGGGAATGTA GCACTCTTCG GAGTGTGTTA TAGCCTCCTG {T_Beig} .ATCAGTTTT .GTCCGGTGG ATAAAGGTAG TAGGAATGTG ..ACTTCTCC GGAAGTGTTA TAGCCTATTA {C_Laur} .ATCAGTTTT .GTCCGACGG ATAATGGCGG CGGGAAAGTA GCAC..CTCC GGGTGTGTTA TAGCCCGCTG {Beauve} .ATCAGTTCG CCCT.GGGGG ACAAAGGCTT CGGGAACGTG GCTCTCTCC. .....GGGGA .......... {Fusari} .ATCAGTTTT CSOC.GGGGG ATAAAGRCTT CGGGAATGTG GCTCYCYYC. .....GGGGA .......... {Acremo} .ATCAGTTCG CGCC.GGGGG ATAAAGGTTT CGGGAATGTA GCTCCTTC.. ......GGGA .......... {Paecil} .ATCAGTTCG CCGC.GGGGG AAAAAGGCTT CGGGAACGTG GCTCCTAC.. ......GGGA .......... {P_Boyd} .ATCAGTTCG CTGCAGGGGG AGAAAGGCGA TGGGAATGTG GCTC..TTC. .......GGA .......... {S_Brum} .ATCAGTTCG CCTCGGGGGG AGAAAGGCGG CGGGAATGTG GCTC..TAC. .......GGA .......... {S_Brev} .ATCAGTTCG .TCCGGGGGG AGAAAGGCGG CGGGAATGTG GCTC..TTC. .......GGA .......... {Sporot} .ATCGGTTCT C.CCAGGGGG ACAAAGGCCG CGGGAACGTA GCTCCTTCG. .......GGA .......... {B_Derm} .GTCGGTTTC .GACGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CCGGAATGTG TCGCCTCTC. ....GGGG.C .......... {H_Caps} .GTCGGTTTC .GACGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CCGGAATGTG TCGCCTCTC. ....GGGG.C .......... {A_Nidu} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CAGGAATGTA TCGCCCTCC. ....GGGGTT .......... {A_Ungu} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CAGGAATGTA TCACCCTCC. ....GGGGTT .......... {A_Ustu} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CAGGAATGTG TCGCCCTCC. ....GGGG.C .......... {A_Clav} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCT CCGGAATGTA TCACCTCTC. ....GGGG.T .......... {A_Fumi} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC TCGGAATGTA TCACCTCTC. ....GGGG.T .......... {A_Flav} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCTC CCGGAATGTA GTGCCCTYC. ....GGGG.C .......... {A_Ochr} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CCGGAATGTA GCACCCTTC. ....GGGG.T .......... {A_Nige} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CTGGAATGTA GTRCCCTCC. ....GGGG.Y .......... {A_Terr} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCT CCGGAATGTA GCGCCCTTC. ....GGGG.C .......... {A_Glau} .GTCGGTTTG .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CTGGAATGTA ACGCCTCTC. ....GGGG.C .......... {Penici} .GTCGGTTTG .GACGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC TCGGAATRTA ACGCCCCCC. ....GGGG.C .......... {C_Immi} .ATCAGTTCT .GGCGGTTGG TTAAAGGCCT CTGGAATGTA TCGTCCTCC. .....GGGAC .......... {Bipola} .ATCAGTTTG .GGCGGTGGG ATAAAGGTCT CTGTCACGTA CCTTCCTTC. ....GGGTTG .......... {Curvul} .ATCAGTTTG .GGCGGTGGG ATAAAGGTCT CTGACACGTT CCTTCCTTC. ....GGGTTG .......... {Chryso} .ATCGGTTTT .GGCGGCTGG ATAAAGGCCC TAGGAATGTG GCTCCTCTC. ....GGGGAG .......... {Clados} .ATCGTCTGG .TGCCGCTGG AT.AAGACTT GAGGAATGTA GCTCCCTCG. ....GGAGTG .......... {Malbra} .ATCAGTTTT .GGCGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC TTGGAATGTA TCGTCCTCC. ....GGG.AC .......... {C_Para} .ATCAGTTT. .GAGCGGTAG GATAAGTGCA AAGAAATGTG GCACTGCTTC ....GGTAGT .......... {C_Trop} .ATCAGTTT. .GGGCGGTAG GAGAATTGCG TTGGAATGTG GCACGGCTTC ....GGTTGT .......... {C_Albi} .ATCGGTTTG .GAGCGGCAG GATAATGGCG GAGGAATGTG GCACGGCTTC ....TGCTGT .......... {C_Guil} .ATCGGTTT. .GGGCGGTAG GATAATGGCG TAGGAATGTG ACTTTRCTTC ....GGTGAA .......... {C_Glab} .ATCGGTTTT .G.GCGGCCG GAAAAAACCT AGGGAATGTG GCTCTGCGCC TCGGTGTAGA .......... {S_Cere} .ATCAGTTTT .G.GTGGCAG GATAAATCCA TAGGAATGTA GCTTGCCTC. .....GGTAA .......... {C_Kefy} .ATCAGTTTT .A.GCGGTTG GATAAATCCT CGGGAATGTG GCTCTGCTTC ....GGTAGA .......... {Geotri} .TGGGGTGTT .TGGGAGT.. GAAAAAGAAG TAGGAACGTA ACTCTTC... .......GGA .......... {C_Lusi} .GTC.GAAAA .GGGGGGAGG AACAAGAACT CGAGAATGTG GCGCGCACCT TCGGGYGCGC .......... {C_Krus} .ATCGGTTCT .TGCTGCAGG AGAAGGGGTT CTGGAACGTG GCTCTTC... .......GGA .......... {Blasch} .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... {P_Braz} GCGTCGGTTT CGACGGCCGG TCAAAGGCCC CCGGAATGTG TC...GCCTC TCGGGG.... .......... {Pc_Hum} GCATCGGTTT CAGTTACTGG ATAAAACTGG AAGAAGGTAG GCTCTCTTCG GAGGGTTTTT TAGCTTCCAG 141                                                                      210 {Rhizo2} CCTTAGAAAA TACCTTGGGT TGGATTGAGG AACGCAGCGA ATG....... .......... ...CTTATTG {Rhizo3} CCTTAGAAAA TACCTTGGGC TGGATTGAGG TACGCAGCGA ATG....... .......... ...CTATTTG {Rhizo1} CTTTAGAAAA TACCTTGAAT TGGATTGAGG AACGCAGCGA ATGCTTCTCT TTAGAGGCAA AGTCTTTTAT {Mucor_} CCTACTATCA TACTCTGGAT TGGACTGAGG AACGCAGCGA ATGCCWTTAG GCRAGATTGC TGGGTGCTTT {C_Terr} TCGTATACAG TGGTTGGGAC TGAGGAACGC AGCATGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTACATGCTT {F_Caps} TCACATACAA TGGTTGGGAC TGAGGAACCC AGCATGCCTT TATGGCCGGG ATTCGTCCAC GTACATGCTT {F_Unig} TCACATACAG TGGTTGGGAC TGAGGAACGC AGCATGCCTT TATGGCCGGG ATTCGTCCAC GTACATGCTT {C_Neob} TCGCATACAC TGGTTGGGAC TGAGGAATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTTCGAGCTT {F_Neoc} TCGCATACAC TGGTTGGGAC TGAGGAATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTTCGAGCTT {F_Neod} TCGCATACAC TGGTTGGGAC TGAGGAATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTTCGAGCTT {C_Neof} TCGCATACAC TGGTTGGGAC TGAGGAATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTTCGAGCTT {T_Beig} TCACATACAC TGGGTGAGAC TGAGGACTGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGC CTTCGGGCAC GTTCGAGCTT {C_Laur} TCGCATACGC CGGATGAGAC TGAGGCATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCAGGG GTTCGCCCAC TTTCGAGCTT {Beauve} .........G TGTTATAGCC CGTTGCGTAA TACC.CTGTG GCGGACTGAG GTTCGCG... ..CATTCGCA {Fusari} .........G TGTTATAGCC CGTTGYSTAA TACC.CTGGB GGGGACTGAG GTTCGCG... ..CWTCTGCA {Acremo} .........G TGTTATAGCC CGTTGCGTAA TACC.CTGGC GTGGACTGAG GTCCGCG... ..C.TCTGCA {Paecil} .........G TGTTATAGCC CGTTGCATAA TACC.CTGGG GCGGACTGAG GTTCGCG... ..C.TCCGCA {P_Boyd} .........G TGTTATAGCC CGCCGCGCAA TACC.CCTCG GCGGACTGAG GACCGCG... ..CATCTGCA {S_Brum} .........G TGTTATAGCC CGCCGCGTAA TACC.CCCGG GCGGACTGAG GACCGCG... ..CGTATGCA {S_Brev} .........G TGTTATAGCC CGCCGTCTAA TACC.CTCGG GTGGACTGAG GACCGCG... ..CGTATGCA {Sporot} .........G TGTTATAGCC CGCGGCGGCA TGCC.CCTGG GGGGACCGAG GACCGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {B_Derm} .........G TCTTATAGCC GGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGT CGGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {H_Caps} .........G TCTTATAGCC GGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGT CGGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTCCGGCA {A_Nidu} .........G TCTTATAGCC TGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CCGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {A_Ungu} .........G TCTTATAGCC TGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CTGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {A_Ustu} .........G TCTTATAGCC TGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CCGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {A_Clav} .........G TCTTATAGCC GGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCTGC CTGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCT {A_Fumi} .........G TCTTATAGCC GAGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCTGC CTGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCT {A_Flav} .........A CCTTATAGCC GGGAGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CTGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {A_Ochr} .........G CCTTATAGCC GGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CTGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {A_Nige} .........A CCTTATAGCC AGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CTGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {A_Terr} .........G CCTTATAGCC GGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CTGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {A_Glau} .........G CCTTATAGCC AGGGGTGTCA TGCGGCCAGC CTGGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {Penici} .........G TCTTATAGCC GAGGGTGCCA TGCGGCCAGC MCAGACCGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCT {C_Immi} .........G TCTTATAGCC AGGGGCGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CGGGACTGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {Bipola} .........G CCATATAG.G GGAGACGTCA TACCACCAGC CTGGACTGAG GTCCGCG... ..CATCTGCT {Curvul} .........G CCATATAG.G GGAGACGTCA TACCACCAGC CTGGACTGAG GTCCGCG... ..CATCTGCT {Chryso} .........T GTTATAGC.C TAGGGTGCAA TGCAGCCTGC TGGGACCGAG GACCGCG... ..CTTCGGCT {Clados} .......... ...TTATA.G CCTCTTGTGA TGCAGCGAGC GCCGGGCGAG GTCCGCG... ..CTTCGGCT {Malbra} .........G TCTTATAGCC AAGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC CGGGACTGAG GAACGCG... ..CTTCGGCA {C_Para} .........G TGTTATAGTC T.TTGTC.GA TACTGCCAGC TTAGACTGAG GACTGCG..G CTTCG.GCCT {C_Trop} .........G TGTTATAGCC T.TCGTC.GA TACTGCCAGC CTAGACTGAG GACTGCG..G TTTAT.ACCT {C_Albi} .........G TGTTATAGCC T.CTGAC.GA TGCTGCCAGC CTAGACCGAG GACTGCG..G TTTTTAACCT {C_Guil} .........G TGTTATAGCC T.GCGTT.GA TGCTGCCTGC CTAGACCGAG GACTGCG..A TTTT..ATCA {C_Glab} .........G TGTTATAGCC C.TGGGG.AA TACGGCCAGC CGGGACCGAG GACTGCGATA CTTGTTATCT {S_Cere} .........G TATTATAGCC T.GTGGG.AA TACTGCCAGC TGGGACTGAG GACTGCGACG TAAG...TCA {C_Kefy} .........G TGTTATAGCC C.GTGGG.AA TACAGCCAGC TGGGACTGAG GATTGCGACT TTTG...TCA {Geotri} .........G TGTTATAGCC T.ACTTT.CA TAGCTCCTCA GGCGCCTCAG GACTGPG... ..CTTCGGCA {C_Lusi} .........G TGTTATAGCT C.GTGTT.GA CGCCTCCATC CCTTTTCGAG GCCTGCGAT. .......TCT {C_Krus} .........G TGTTATAGCC A.GGGCCAGA TGCTGCCTGC GGGGACCGAG GACTGCGGCC GTGTAGGTCA {Blasch} .....TGAAA TTGTTGAAAG GGAAGGCGAT GGTAGGAATA AGAGGCTGCG GTTTGAAATA ATTGTTTTTC {P_Braz} ........CG TCTTATAGCC GGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGT CGGGACCGAG GAACGCGCT. ....CCGGCA {Pc_Hum} TAGCTGCAGT GACCGGGACC GGAAGGGAAA TTGGGTCTTT GAAGACCTTA TGATGTTGGC AGAAATGGTC 211                                     250 {Rhizo2} GCGAGTTTTC CAGGAAGGT. .....TTTCT GAGGTACTAC SEQ ID NO: 68 {Rhizo3} GCGAGTTGGC TGGGAATAT. .....TTTCT GAGGTGCTTT SEQ ID NO: 69 {Rhizo1} TGGGATTTAC GGATCAGAC. .....TGTGG CATTGTCACA SEQ ID NO: 67 {Mucor_} CGCTAATAAA TGTTAGAATT TCTGCTTCGG GTGGTGCTAA SEQ ID NO: 63 {C_Terr} AGG..ATGTT GACATAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 53 {F_Caps} AGG..ATGTT GACATAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 56 {F_Unig} AGG..ATGTT GACATAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 59 {C_Neob} AGG..ATGTT GACAAAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 50 {F_Neoc} AGG..ATGTT GACAAAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 57 {F_Neod} AGG..ATGTT GACAAAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 58 {C_Neof} AGG..ATGTT GACAAAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 51 {T_Beig} AGG..ATGTT GACATAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 74 {C_Laur} AGG..ATGTT GACGTAATGG CTTTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 48 {Beauve} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCATCAGTGA CCCGTCT... SEQ ID NO: 35 {Fusari} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCATCAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 55 {Acremo} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCATCAGTGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 24 {Paecil} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCATCAGCGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 64 {P_Boyd} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGTCAGCGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 66 {S_Brum} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGTCAGCGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 72 {S_Brev} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGTCAGCGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 71 {Sporot} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCACCAGCGA ACCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 70 {B_Derm} CGG..ACGCT GGCTTAATGG TCGTAAGCGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 38 {H_Caps} CGG..ACGCT GGCTTAATGG TCGTCAGCGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 61 {A_Nidu} CGG..ACGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGCAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 29 {A_Ungu} CGG..ACGCT GGCATAATGG TTGCAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 33 {A_Ustu} CGG..ACGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGCAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 34 {A_Clav} CGG..ACGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGTAAATGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 25 {A_Fumi} CGG..ACGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGTAAATGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 27 {A_Flav} CGG..ACGCT GGCATAATGG TCGYAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 26 {A_Pchr} CGG..ACGCT GGCATAATGG TCGTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 31 {A_Nige} CGG..ACGCT GGCATAATGG TCGTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 30 {A_Terr} CGG..ACGCT GGCATAATGG TTGTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 32 {A_Glau} CGG..ACGCT GGCATAATGG TCGTAAACGA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 28 {Penici} CGG..ACGCT GGCATAATGG TCGTAAA... .......... SEQ ID NO: 65 {C_Immi} CGG..ATGCT GGCATAATGG TTGTAAGCGG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 45 {Bipola} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG CTGTAAGCGG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 36 {Curvul} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG CTGTAAGCGG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 41 {Chryso} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TTGTAAGCGG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 39 {Clados} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGTAATCCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 40 {Malbra} CGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG CTGTAAGCGG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 62 {C_Para} AGG..ATGTT GGCATAATGA TCTTAAGTCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 52 {C_Trop} AGG..ATGTT GGCATAATGA TCTTAAGTCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 54 {C_Albi} AGG..ATGTT GGCATAATGA TCTTAAGTCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 42 {C_Guil} AGG..ATGCT GGCATAATGA TCCCAAACCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 44 {C_Glab} AGG..ATGCT GGCATAATGG TTATATGCCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 43 {S_Cere} AGG..ATGCT GGCATAATGG TTATATGCCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 73 {C_Kefy} AGG..ATGCT GGCGTAATGG TTAAATGCCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 46 {Geotri} AGG..ACCTT GGCATAATGA TTCTATACCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 60 {C_Lusi} AGG..ACGCT GGCGTAATGG TTGCAAGCCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 49 {C_Krus} CGG..ATGCT GGCAGAACGG CGCAACACCG CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 47 {Blasch} GGGCCACGGT CTCCTGAGCC TGCTTTCGCA CCCGTCTTGA SEQ ID NO: 37 {P_Braz} CGG..ACGCT GGCTTAATGG TCGTAAGCGA CCCGTCTTG˜ SEQ ID NO: 77 {Pc_Hum} CTAAGCGACC CGTCTTGAAA CACGGACCAA GGAGTCTAAT SEQ ID NO: 78

Legend to Table 3:

The multiple sequence alignment shows the sequence of 28S ribosomal RNA genes amplified with primers SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. 23 species specific probes (SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76) are shown underlined. Minor sequence variation among two isolate of the same organism are represented by the appropriate code (see key below). Major differences among Rhizopus species are depicted by including 3 separate Rhizopus sequences in the alignment. (The organisms in this figure are listed according to their sequence relatedness.)

Key to symbols:

(.) gap in sequence to facilitate alignment

(R) A or G

(W) A or T

(Y) T or C

(M) A or C

(K) T or G

(S) G or C

(B) T, G or C

Acremo Acremonium species A_clav Aspergillus clavatus A_flav Aspergillus flavus A_fumi Aspergillus fumigarus A_glau Aspergillus glaucus A_nidu Aspergillus nidulans A_nige Aspergillus niger A_ochr Aspergillus ochraceus A_terr Aspergillus terreus A_ungu Aspergillus unguis A_ustu Aspergillus ustus Beauve Beauveria species Bipola Bipolaris species Blasch Blastoschizomyces species B_derm Blastomyces dermatitidis Chryso Chrysosporium species Clados Cladosporium species Curvul Curvularia species C_albi Candida albicans C_glab Candida glabrata C_guil Candida guilliermondii C_immi Coccidioides immitis C_kefy Candida kefyr C_krus Candida krusei C_laur Cryptococcus laurentii C_lusi Candida lusitaniae C_neob Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii serotype B C_neof Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A C_para Candida parapsilosis C_terr Cryptococcus terreus C_trop Candida tropicalis Fusari Fusarium species F_caps Filobasidium capsuligenum F_neoc Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var bacillispora serotype C F_neod Filobasidiella (Cryptococcus) neoformans var neoformans serotype D F_unig Filobasidium uniguttulatum Geotri Geotrichum species H_caps Histoplasma capsulatum Malbra Malbranchea species Mucor_(—) Mucor species Paecil Paecilomyces species Penici Penicillium species P_boyd Pseudallescheria boydii P_braz Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Pc-Hum Pneumocystis carinii, human isolate Rhizo1 Rhizopus species isolate #1 Rhizo2 Rhizopus species isolate #2 Rhizo3 Rhizopus species isolate #3 Sporot Sporothrix schenkii S_brev Scopulariopsis brevicaulis S_brum Scopulariopsis brumpti S_cere Saccharomyces cerevisiae T_beig Trichosporon beigelii Pneumocystis carinii

Further variations of the invention that utilize any of the named sequences will be apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art. The following examples illustrate various aspects of the invention but are not intended to limit its usefulness.

EXAMPLE 1 Testing probes SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 for hybridization specificity

Probes listed in SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 were tested for specificity against their target organisms. Probe SEQ ID NO: 5 for Candida albicans was the first one tested against a panel of fungi taken from the Mayo Clinic collection. 28S rDNA from Acremonium sp., Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus unguis, Aspergillus ustus, Aspergillus sp., Beauvaria sp., Bipolaris sp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Chrysosporium sp., Cladosporium sp., Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A, Curvularia sp., Fusarium sp., Geotrichum sp., Histoplasma capsulatum, Mucor sp., Penicillium sp., Pseudallescheria boydii, Rhizopus sp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Sporothrix schenkii and Trichosporon beigelii was amplified in a polymerase chain reaction using oligonucleotide probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. All PCR amplifications were carried out as hot-start reactions in a 50 ul reaction volume using Perkin-Elmer (Norwalk, Conn.) 0.5 ml thin-wall polypropylene tubes and a Perkin-Elmer thermal cycler. Reagents added to the tube initially were 2.5 ul of 10× PCR buffer (100 mM tris pH 8.3, 500 mM KCl, 15 mM MgCl₂), 5.0 ul of 50% glycerol/1 mM cresol red, 8.0 ul of dNTP mix (1.25 mM each of DATP, dGTP, dTTP and dCTP), 11 picomoles of each nucleic acid primer and sterile water to make up a volume of 25 ul. A wax bead (Ampliwax Gem=100, Perkin-Elmer) was added and the tubes heated to 77° C. for 30 seconds and cooled to room temperature to form a wax barrier. 2.5 ul of 10× PCR buffer, 5.0 ul of 50% glycerol/1 mM cresol red, 0.2 ul Taq polymerase (AmpliTaq 5U/ul, Perkin-Elmer) and 15.3 ul of sterile water was added to the tube along with 2.0 ul of DNA from the fungal whole cell boiled lysate described above. 50 cycles of thermal cycling was carried out at 94° C.—30 sec, 50° C.—1 min, 72° C.—2 min. Five microliters of polymerase chain reaction mix from each sample was run on a 5% polyacrylamide gel to visually confirm the successful amplification of 28S rDNA from each fungus listed above. 40 ul of the remaining amplified 28S rDNA was denatured in 1 N NaOH, and half of this denatured rDNA was slot blotted on to a positively charged polysulphone based membrane equilibrated in 0.5 N NaOH. The membrane was air dried for 15 minutes and baked in a vacuum oven at 80° C. for 30 minutes. Amplified rDNA from each species was now bound and immobilized at a separate spot on the membrane. The free binding sites on the membrane were blocked by incubating the membrane for 3 hours at 40° C. in hybridization buffer (100 ml of hybridization buffer was made using 1 g non-fat milk powder, 6 g NaH₂PO₄, 7 g SDS, 200 ul 0.5M EDTA and adjusted to pH 7.2 with NaOH). The specific probe for Candida albicans (SEQ ID NO: 5) was end-labeled with radioactive phosphorus using ³²P ATP and T4 polynucleotide kinase. 50 picomoles of this probe was added to 70 milliliters of hybridization buffer and the membrane was probed at 40° C. overnight. The membrane was washed in hybridization buffer at 40° C. for 15 minutes followed by a wash in 2× SSC at 40° C. for 15 minutes. The membrane was then exposed on x-ray film for at least 1 hour. The oligonucleotide probe SEQ ID NO: 5 only hybridized to amplified 28S rDNA from Candida albicans (see Table 4) Under these hybridization conditions, probe SEQ ID NO: 5 is extremely specific for Candida albicans. The sequence of oligonucleotide probe SEQ ID NO: 5 differs from the sequences of other species of Candida by as few as 1 or 2 bases, but these mismatches are sufficient to prevent stable hybrids from forming with the other Candida species.

Probes SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23 were tested for specificity, as described above for the Candida albicans probe SEQ ID NO: 5, against the same panel of fungi listed in the preceding paragraph. The positively charged polysulphone based membrane probed with Candida albicans probe SEQ ID NO: 5 was washed in 0.5 N NaOH at 40° C. for 10 minutes to remove all bound Candida albicans probe. The membrane was sequentially probed with all probes listed in SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23. For each subsequently tested probe, the membrane was blocked for at least 30 minutes, probe hybridization was carried out at 40-42° C. for at least 3 hours, and post-hybridization washes were done in 2× SSC for 20 minutes. The membrane was stripped between probings by washing in 0.5 to 1.0 N NaOH at 40-42° C. Results are listed in Tables 4 to 7.

Probes SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 were tested for specificity against a modified panel of fungi, using the procedure just described. The specific organisms tested and the results obtained are listed in Table 8.

As shown in Tables 4 to 8, each probe listed in SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 specifically hybridizes to only one target fungal 28S nucleic acid sequence. This specificity is essential for identifying a given species of fungus in clinical specimens containing mixed fungal organisms with a high level of reliability. The organisms listed in these Tables represent a majority of organisms that are commonly isolated from clinical samples. While we have developed 23 species specific probes (SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76) that identify a total of 21 individual organisms, the additional organisms listed in the test panel were used to ensure that our probes did not have any cross-reactivity with other fungi likely to be present in a clinical specimen. The ability to accurately and reliably diagnose, and identify to a species level, this large a number of pathogens is unmatched by any other report. The fact that we can achieve this by probing DNA amplified by a single pair of “Universal” probes (SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2) is highly advantageous as it saves time, money and effort by providing the ability to test a single amplified target with 23 different probes (SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76).

A GenBank search was carried out with all probes listed in SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 in order to determine whether similar gene sequences were present in the database. 28S sequences for Candida albicans Cryptococcus neoformans are already present in GenBank, and as expected, the probes for Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans correctly identified the 28S sequences from these two organisms. Ten other probes also matched DNA sequences from a variety of genes not related to the 28S gene (Table 9). This was expected because short stretches of sequence identity can often be found for any query sequence in unrelated genes from the same or a different organism. This observation is known to those versed in this art. In all cases, sequences that matched a probe sequence were not located within the 28S rRNA genes. Our probes are used to analyze 28S DNA that has been previously amplified in a polymerase chain reaction with our probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. Under stringent conditions, these two probes only amplify DNA from fungal 28S rRNA genes. Therefore no amplified DNA from the non-28S genes listed in Table 9 will be available for the hybridization of probes SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23. The presence of related sequences in non-28S, unamplified genes will not be detected and will, thus, not have any effect on the sensitivity or the specificity of our detection and identification strategy.

TABLE 4 Detection of species specific 28S sequence with probes SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 8 FUNGUS SEQ ID: 3 SEQ ID: 4 SEQ ID: 5 SEQ ID: 6 SEQ ID: 7 SEQ ID: 8 Acremonium sp. − − − − − − Aspergillus clavatus − − − − − − Aspergillus flavus − − − − − − Aspergillus fumigatus + − − − − − Aspergillus glaucus − − − − − − Aspergillus nidulans − − − − − − Aspergillus niger − − − − − − Aspergillus ochraceus − − − − − − Aspergillus terreus − − − − − − Aspergillus unguis − − − − − − Aspergillus ustus − − − − − − Aspergillus sp. − − − − − − Beauvaria sp. − − − − − − Bipolaris sp. − − − − − − Blastomyces dermatitidis − − − − − − Candida albicans − − + − − − Candida glabrata − − − − − − Candida guilliermondii − − − − − − Candida kefyr − − − − − − Candida krusei − − − − − − Candida lusitaniae − − − − − − Candida parapsilosis − − − − − − Candida tropicalis − − − − − − Chrysosporium sp. − − − − − − Cladosporium sp. − − − − − − Coccidioides immitis − − − + − − Cryptococcus neoformans − − − − + + Curvularia sp. − − − − − − Fusarium sp. − − − − − − Geotrichum sp. − − − − − − Histoplasma capsulatum − − − − − − Mucor sp. − − − − − − Penicillium sp. − − − − − − Pseudallescheria boydii − − − − − − P. brasiliensis − − − − − − Pneumocystis carinii − − − − − − Rhizopus sp. − − − − − − Saccharomyces cerevisiae − − − − − − Scopulariopsis brevicaulis − − − − − − Sporothrix schenckii − − − − − − Trichosporon beigelii − − − − − − + Positive − Negative after 20 minute wash in 2X SSC

TABLE 5 Detection of species specific 28S sequence with probes SEQ ID NO: 9 to SEQ ID NO: 14 SEQ ID: FUNGUS SEQ ID: 9 SEQ ID: 10 SEQ ID: 11 SEQ ID: 12 SEQ ID: 13 14 Acremonium sp. − − − − − − Aspergillus clavatus − − − − − − Aspergillus flavus − − − − − − Aspergillus fumigatus − − − − − − Aspergillus glaucus − + − − − − Aspergillus nidulans − − − − − − Aspergillus niger − − + − − − Aspergillus ochraceus − − − − − − Aspergillus terreus − − − + − − Aspergillus unguis − − − − − − Aspergillus ustus − − − − − − Aspergillus sp. − − − − − − Beauvaria sp. − − − − − − Bipolaris sp. − − − − − − Blastomyces dermatitidis − − − − − − Candida albicans − − − − − − Candida glabrata − − − − + − Candida guilliermondii − − − − − + Candida kefyr − − − − − − Candida krusei − − − − − − Candida lusitaniae − − − − − − Candida parapsilosis − − − − − − Candida tropicalis − − − − − − Chrysosporium sp. − − − − − − Cladosporium sp. − − − − − − Coccidioides immitis − − − − − − Cryptococcus neoformans − − − − − − Curvularia sp. − − − − − − Fusarium sp. − − − − − − Geotrichum sp. − − − − − − Histoplasma capsulatum + − − − − − Mucor sp. − − − − − − Penicillium sp. − − − − − − P. brasiliensis − − − − − − Pneumocystis carinii − − − − − − Pseudallescheria boydii − − − − − − Rhizopus sp. − − − − − − Saccharomyces cerevisiae − − − − − − Scopulariopsis brevicaulis − − − − − − Sporpthrix schenckii − − − − − − Trichosporon beigelii − − − − − − + Positive − Negative after 20 minute wash in 2X SSC

TABLE 6 Detection of species specific 28S sequence with probes SEQ ID NO: 15 to SEQ ID NO: 20 SEQ ID: FUNGUS SEQ ID: 15 SEQ ID: 16 SEQ ID: 17 SEQ ID: 18 SEQ ID: 19 20 Acremonium sp. − − − − − − Aspergillus clavatus − − − − − − Aspergillus flavus − − − − − − Aspergillus fumigatus − − − − − − Aspergillus glaucus − − − − − − Aspergillus nidulans − − − − − − Aspergillus niger − − − − − − Aspergillus ochraceus − − − − − − Aspergillus terreus − − − − − − Aspergillus unguis − − − − − − Aspergillus ustus − − − − − − Aspergillus sp. − − − − − − Beauvaria sp. − − − − − − Bipolaris sp. − − − − − − Blastomyces dermatitidis − − − − − − Candida albicans − − − − − − Candida glabrata − − − − − − Candida guilliermondii − − − − − − Candida kefyr + − − − − − Candida krusei − + − − − − Candida lusitaniae − − + − − − Candida parapsilosis − − − + − − Candida tropicalis − − − − + − Chrysosporium sp. − − − − − − Cladosporium sp. − − − − − − Coccidioides immitis − − − − − − Cryptococcus neoformans − − − − − − Curvularia sp. − − − − − − Fusarium sp. − − − − − − Geotrichum sp. − − − − − − Histoplasma capsulatum − − − − − − Mucor sp. − − − − − − Penicillium sp. − − − − − − P. brasiliensis − − − − − − Pneumocystis carinii − − − − − − Pseudallescheria boydii − − − − − + Rhizopus sp. − − − − − − Saccharomyces cerevisiae − − − − − − Scopulariopsis brevicaulis − − − − − − Sporothrix schenckii − − − − − − Trichosporon beigelii − − − − − − + Positive − Negative after 20 minute wash in 2X SSC

TABLE 7 Detection of species specific 28S sequence with probes SEQ ID NO: 21 to SEQ ID NO: 23 FUNGUS SEQ ID: 21 SEQ ID: 22 SEQ ID: 23 Acremonium sp. − − − Aspergillus clavatus − − − Aspergillus flavus + − − Aspergillus fumigatus − − − Aspergillus glaucus − − − Aspergillus nidulans − − − Aspergillus niger − − − Aspergillus ochraceus − − − Aspergiilus terreus − − − Aspergillus unguis − − − Aspergillus ustus − − − Aspergillus sp − − − Beauvaria sp. − − − Bipolaris sp. − − − Blastomyces dermatitidis − − − Candida albicans − − − Candida glabrata − − − Candida guilliermondii − − − Candida kefyr − − − Candida krusei − − − Candida lusitaniae − − − Candida parapsilosis − − − Candida tropicalis − − − Chrysosporium sp. − − − Cladosporium sp. − − − Coccidioides immitis − − − Cryptococcus neoformans − − − Curvularia sp. − − − Fusarium sp. − − − Geotrichum sp. − − − Histoplasma capsulatum − − − Mucor sp. − − − Penicillium sp. − − − Paracoccidioides brasiliensis − − − Pneumocystis carinii − − − Pseudallescheria boydii − − − Rhizopus sp. − − − Saccharomyces cerevisiae − − − Scopulariopsis brevicaulis − − − Sporothrix schenckii − + + Trichosporon beigelii − − − + Positive − Negative after 20 minute wash in 2X SSC

TABLE 8 Detection of species specific 28S sequence with probes SEQ ID NO: 75 to SEQ ID NO: 76 FUNGUS SEQ ID NO: 75 SEQ ID NO: 76 Acremonium sp. − − Aspergillus clavatus − − Aspergillus flavus − − Aspergillus fumigatus − − Aspergillus glaucus − − Aspergillus nidulans − − Aspergillus niger − − Aspergillus ochraceus − − Aspergillus terreus − − Aspergillus unguis − − Aspergillus ustus − Beauvaria sp. − − Bipolaris sp. − − Blastomyces dermatitidis − − Blasotschizomyces capitatus − − Candida albicans − − Candida glabrata − − Candida guilliermondii − − Candida krusei − − Candida lusitaniae − − Candida parapsilosis − − Candida tropicalis − − Chrysosporium sp. − − Cladosporium sp. − − Coccidioides immitis − − Cryptococcus laurentii − − Cryptococcus neoformans − − var neoformans (sero A) − − var neoformans (sero D) − − var gatti (sero B) − − Cryptococcus terreus − − Curvularia sp. − − Filobasidium capsuligenum − − Filobasidium uniguttulatum − − Fusarium sp. − − Geotrichum sp. − − Histoplasma capsulatum − − Malbranchea filamentosum − − Mucor sp. − − Paecilomyces sp. − − Paracoccidioides brasiliensis isolate no. 135 + − isolate no. 262 + − isolate no. 265 + − isolate no. 927 + − isolate no. 9919 + − isolate no. 9894 + − Prototheca sp. − − Penicillium sp. − − Pneumocystis carinii isolate no. Mayo ref. cult. − + isolate no. 56 − + isolate no. 62 − + isolate no. 69 − + isolate no. 85 − + Pseudallesheria boydii − − Rhizopus sp. − − Saccharomyces cerevisiae − − Scopulariopsis brevicaulis − − Scopulariopsis brumptii − − Sporothrix schenckii − − Trichosporon beigelii − −

TABLE 9 GenBank search results listing genes from other organisms having 100% identity to probes SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 PROBE GENE SEQ ID ORGANISM MATCHED* ACCESSION NO: MATCHED (see note below) NUMBER Aspergillus fumigatus 3 — — — Blastomyces dermatitidis 4 Streptomyces verticillus bleomycin acetyl L26955 transferase 4 Giardia muris upstream of rRNA X65063, S53320 genes 4 Aspergillus nidulans uric acid-xanthine X71807 permease 4 Homo sapiens T-cell surface X16996 glycoprotein 4 Homo sapiens MIC2 M16279, M22557, J03841, M22556 Candida albicans 5 Candida albicans 28S rRNA L28817 Coccidioides immitis 6 — — — Cryptococcus neoformans 7 Cryptococcus 28S rRNA L14067, L14068, neoformans Cryptococcus neoformans 8 Cryptococcus 28S rRNA L14067, L14068, neoformans L20964 8 Escherichia coli 0111 cld Z17241 Histoplasma capsulatum 9 — — — Aspergillus glaucus 10 Pseudomonas cob genes M62866 denitrificans Aspergillus niger 11 — — — Aspergillus terreus 12 Human cytomegalovirus genome X17403 12 Homo sapiens GABA receptor L08485 Candida glabrata 13 Homo sapiens Class 1 MHC X03664, X03665 Candida guilliermondii 14 — — — Candida kefyr 15 — — — Candida krusei 16 Pseudomonas syringae penicillin binding L28837 protein Candida lusitaniae 17 Chicken AK1 D00251 17 Mouse IL10 M84340 Candida parapsilosis 18 Polytomella agilis beta-2 tubulin M33373 18 Tobacco chloroplast genome Z00044, S54304 18 Aedes aegypti amylase L03640 18 Homo sapiens chromosome 13q14 L14473 Candida tropicalis 19 — — — Pseudallescheria boydii 20 Drosophila AcTr66B X71789 melanogaster Cow actin2 D12816 Aspergillus flavus 21 — — — Sporothrix schenckii 22 — — — Sporothrix schenckii 23 Sulfate reducing bacteria FMN binding protein D21804 23 Equine herpesvirus 1 genome M86664 Paracoccidioides 75 European rabbit BI-1 calcium channel X57476 brasiliensis gene Pneumocystis carinii 76 rice heat shock protein D1775 76 C. elegens repetetive DNA X61259 76 Synechocystis sp. genome D64000 76 C. elegens various cosmids Z81063, U59749, Z69662, Z49936, U88182, U80931, Z47358, Z81142, Z79602, Z82084, Z70269

* Note: As discussed earlier in this document, the presence of sequences similar to probes SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76 in genes not related to 28S does not have any effect on the specificity or sensitivity of our diagnostic strategy. Our species specific probes are used to analyze 28S DNA that has been previously amplified in a polymerase chain reaction with our probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. These two probes will not amplify DNA from any gene other than 28S in column #4 (GENE MATCHED), and therefore no amplified DNA from these non-28S genes will be available for the hybridization of probes SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 75 and SEQ ID NO: 76.

EXAMPLE 2 Use of method in example 1 to test clinical specimens for specific fungal organisms

Clinical samples taken from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract of healthy individuals almost always contain some fungal flora. Most of these fungi are non-pathogenic, but may give false positives on traditional immunochemical diagnostic tests for pathogenic fungi.

We obtained 44 clinical specimens from diverse sources ranging from sputum and incision drainage tubes, to intervertebral disc and lung biopsies. Traditional smear and culture results showed that all 44 specimens contained at least 1 type of fungus. In order to test the efficacy of our probes, we extracted DNA from all 44 clinical samples and used probes SEQ ID NO: 1 & 2 in a polymerase chain reaction to amplify fungal 28S sequences present in these samples.

DNA was extracted from all clinical samples by our modification of the technique of Chomczynski and Sacchi which originally described the use of acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform to preferentially extract RNA from cells and tissues. We replaced room temperature cell lysis by boiling lysis, and acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction by alkaline phenol-guanidine thiocyanate to preferentially extract DNA from cells. 1.5 ml Sarsted (Newton, N.C.) polypropylene screw cap tubes with o-ring seals were used for the extractions. 200 ul of specimen was added to 500 ul of GPT reagent (6 M guanidine thiocyanate dissolved in 50 mM tris pH 8.3 mixed with an equal volume of phenol buffered in tris pH 8.0). This was mixed by vortexing and immediately placed in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. The tubes were spun in a microcentrifuge for 5 seconds and 250 ul of chloroform/iso-amyl alcohol (24:1 by volume) was added and mixed by vortexing. The liquid phases were separated by centrifugation for 10 minutes and 450 ul of aqueous (upper) phase was transferred to a fresh tube. The aqueous phase was mixed with 500 ul of 100% isopropanol and placed at −20° C. for at least 1 hour. At the end of this period the tubes were centrifuged for 15 minutes and the supernatant removed without disturbing the nucleic acid pellet. The pellet was washed with 500 ul of ice-cold 70% ethanol to remove traces of GPT reagent by gently inverting 2 times and then centrifuged for 5 minutes. The ethanol was removed and the pellet dried in a speed vac for 10 minutes. The pellet was resuspended in 25 ul of sterile deionized water and 5 ul was used in a 50 ul PCR amplification. The PCR was carried out as a hot-start reaction using the thermal cycling conditions for probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 described in example 1. Gel electrophoresis showed that probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 successfully amplified DNA from all 44 specimens.

The amplified DNA from each specimen was transferred to a positively charged polysulphone based membrane. We radioactively labeled our species specific probes SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6 and SEQ ID NO: 7, and sequentially probed the membrane to test for the presence of 28S rDNA from Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis and Cryptococcus neoformans respectively. Membrane blocking, probe hybridization and washes were done exactly as described in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 10.

No false positives were observed, indicating a specificity of 100% for these 4 probes in the clinical specimens tested. 10 out of 12 culture positive samples for Aspergillus fumigatus, and 11 out of 13 samples of Candida albicans were identified, indicating a detection sensitivity of about 85% for these two probes. Additionally, two out of two Coccidioides immitis and two out of two Cryptococcus neoformans were correctly identified (detection sensitivity of 100%). As seen by these results, the probes described in this invention can be used on a diverse variety of clinical specimens with excellent efficacy.

TABLE 10 Detection of Aspergillus tumigatus, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis and Cryptococcus neoformans in clinical specimens using species specific probes. Smear and culture PCR with Specimen type results SEQ ID: 1, 2 SEQ ID: 3 SEQ ID: 5 SEQ ID: 6 SEQ ID: 7 U035 sputum A. flavus + − − − − U069 pleura A. tumigatus + + − − − U070 bronchial wash A. flavus + − − − − M019 bronchial wash A. tumigatus + + − − − M020 sputum mixed fungal flora + − + − − X35254 sputum C. albicans + − + − − M20910 sputum A. tumigatus + + − − − M055 sputum C. albicans + − + − − M056 abdominal mixed tungal flora + − − − − M057 drainage tube C. albicans + − (−) − − M059 ind. sputum C. albicans + − + − − M060 ind. sputum mixed tungal flora + − − − − M083 bronchial wash C. albicans + − + − − M084 sputum A. tumigatus + (−) − − − M085 throat C. albicans + − (−) − − A001 sputum A. tumigatus + (−) − − − A002 leg Blastomyces + − − − − A003 leg Blastomyces + − − − − A005 disc A. tumigatus + + − − − A037 disc A. tumigatus + + − − − A039 trachea C. albicans + − + − − A040 trachea C. albicans + − + − − A102 empyema A. tumigatus + + − − − Y004 sputum C. albicans + − + − − Y016 induced sputum Coccidioides + − − + − Y028 sputum Coccidioides + − − + − J003 chest Aspergillus sp. + − − − − J045 bronchial wash C. albicans + − + − − J046 ethmoid yeast + − − − − J047 chest A. tumigatus + + − − − J048 sputum C. albicans + − + − − J073 lung Aspergillus sp. + − − − − J074 lung A. tumigatus + + − − − U017 lip A. tumigatus + + − − − U033 sputum mixed tungal flora + − − − − U071 sputum C. albicans + − + − − U072 BA lavage Sporothrix + − − − − U073 knee Histoplasma + − − − − U074 mandible Cryptococcus + − − − + U075 CSF Cryptococcus + − − − + U076 knee Histoplasma + − − − − U077 soft tissue Histoplasma + − − − − U051 buccal A. tumigatus + + − − − Y055 sputum mixed tungal flora + − − − − + Positive − Negative (−) Missed

EXAMPLE 3 DNA sequence based identification of unknown fungal organisms

Another utility of our probes is in the rapid DNA sequence based identification of a pure culture of fungus. Probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 are used in a polymerase chain reaction to amplify 28S rDNA from an unknown fungus. Probes SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 are then used as sequencing primers to obtain DNA sequence from this amplified 28S DNA belonging to the unknown fungus. This DNA sequence is compared to the fungal 28S DNA sequences in our database, and a sequence match at, or overlapping any one of the probe sequences in SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 78 will confirm the identity of the fungus. This technique cannot be used directly on clinical samples, as these usually contain DNA from more than one fungus, and the DNA sequence generated will consist of overlapping sequences of several organisms. This technique has utility in rapidly and reliably identifying colonies of a single fungus on culture plates, clinical specimens, food, pharmaceutical, environmental or other samples containing only one species of fungus.

EXAMPLE 4 Capture and identification of target DNA or RNA

All primers and probes described in this invention disclosure may be labeled with any detectable reporter or signal moiety including, but not limited to radioisotopes, enzymes, antigens, antibodies, chemiluminescent reagents and fluorescent chemicals. Additionally, these probes may be modified without changing the substance of their purpose by terminal addition of nucleotides designed to incorporate restriction sites or other useful sequences. These probes may also be modified by the addition of a capture moiety (including, but not limited to para-magnetic particles, biotin, fluorescein, dioxigenin, antigens, antibodies) or attached to the walls of microtiter trays to assist in the solid phase capture and purification of these probes and any DNA or RNA hybridized to these probes. Fluorescein may be used as a signal moiety as well as a capture moiety, the latter by interacting with an anti-fluorescein antibody.

A typical utility of these modifications would be as follows. Primers SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 would be utilized to amplify 28S rDNA from a sample, if present, as described previously. Primers would be modified so as to contain a biotin moiety at their 5′ ends. A streptavidin solid phase, such as a paramagnetic particle, would be used to separate PCR products, if present, from the reaction mixture. The amplified target may be subsequently hybridized to a third probe ((SEQ ID NO: 3) to (SEQ ID NO: 78) or their complements) attached to a detectable moiety to determine which species of fungus is present in the given sample. Multiple probes, each labeled with a different detectable moiety may be used at one time to analyze the amplified target.

Alternatively, Primers SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 would be utilized to amplify 28S rDNA from a sample, if present, as above. In a separate reaction, individually, either SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 would be modified by attachment to a solid phase capture moiety, such as a paramagnetic particle, and SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 78 (or their complements) would be modified by addition of a detectable moiety. Alternately, in the amplicon, any sequences delimited by SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, including but not limited to SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 78, may be used in the design of a capture probe. One of the probes attached to a solid phase (SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2) or any other appropriately designed sequences and one of the probes modified by attachment to a detectable moiety (SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 78 or their complements) would be hybridized together, in solution, to products of the PCR, if they had been generated. The hybrids, if present, would be captured from the solution, and analyzed by a method appropriate to the detection moiety. Detection of the hybridized probe would indicate which species of fungus was present in the given sample. Multiple probes, each labeled with a different detectable moiety may be used at one time to analyze the amplified target.

EXAMPLE 5 Species-specific amplification of fungal DNA

Another utility of the probes described in this invention is their usage as primers in the direct detection of a specific fungal species by virtue of a nucleic acid amplification reaction. In this embodiment, one primer is a universal one, such as (SEQ ID NO: 1) or (SEQ ID NO: 2), and the other is a species-specific primer selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 3) to (SEQ ID NO: 23), (SEQ ID NO: 75) and (SEQ ID NO: 76) or the complements thereof. One variation of this approach is the substitution of (SEQ ID NO: 1) or (SEQ ID NO: 2) with any functional sequence located in proximity to the species-specific primer. Another variation of this approach is the selection of any appropriate species specific primer pair from SEQ ID NO: 24 to SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 77 and SEQ ID NO: 78.

80 20 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for fungal organisms No No unknown 1 GTGAAATTGT TGAAAGGGAA 20 18 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for fungal organisms No No unknown 2 GACTCCTTGG TCCGTGTT 18 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Aspergillus fumigatus No No unknown 3 CTCGGAATGT ATCA 14 13 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Blastomyces dermatitidis No No unknown 4 ACTCCCCCAC GGG 13 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Candida albicans No No unknown 5 CCTCTGACGA TGCT 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Coccidioides immitis No No unknown 6 TCTGGCGGTT GGTT 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Cryptococcus neoformans No No unknown 7 CTCCTGTCGC ATAC 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Cryptococcus neoformans No No unknown 8 AGTTCTGATC GGTG 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Histoplasma capsulatum No No unknown 9 CAATCCCCCG CGGC 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Aspergillus glaucus No No unknown 10 GTGTCATGCG GCCA 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Aspergillus niger No No unknown 11 CCCTGGAATG TAGT 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Aspergillus terreus No No unknown 12 GCTTCGGCCC GGTG 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Candida glabrata No No unknown 13 CTTGGGACTC TCGC 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Candida guilliermondii No No unknown 14 ATATTTTGTG AGCC 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Candida kefyr No No unknown 15 TTCGGCTTTC GCTG 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Candida krusei No No unknown 16 GGGATTGCGC ACCG 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Candida lusitaniae No No unknown 17 GCCTCCATCC CTTT 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Candida parapsilosis No No unknown 18 ATAAGTGCAA AGAA 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Candida tropicalis No No unknown 19 AGAATTGCGT TGGA 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Pseudallescheria boydii No No unknown 20 GCGATGGGAA TGTG 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Aspergillus flavus No No unknown 21 AGACTCGCCT CCAG 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Sporothrix schenckii No No unknown 22 CGGACCACCC GGCG 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Sporothrix schenckii No No unknown 23 CGGCGGCATG CCCC 14 208 nucleic acid single linear Acremonium species specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 24 GACCAGACTT GGGCTCGGTG AATCATCCGG CGTTCTCGCC GGTGCACTTT 50 GCCGTCCCAG GCCAGCATCA GTTCGCGCCG GGGGATAAAG GTTTCGGGAA 100 TGTAGCTCCT TCGGGAGTGT TATAGCCCGT TGCGTAATAC CCTGGCGTGG 150 ACTGAGGTCC GCGCTCTGCA AGGATGCTGG CGTAATGGTC ATCAGTGACC 200 CGTCTTGA 208 212 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus clavatus specific region of 28S No No unknown 25 GACCAGACTC GCTCGCGGGG TTCAGCCGGC ATTCGTGCCG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGTGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCTCCGGAA 100 TGTATCACCT CTCGGGGTGT CTTATAGCCG GGGGTGCAAT GCGGCCTGCC 150 TGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCTCGGACG CTGGCGTAAT GGTCGTAAAT 200 GACCCGTCTT GA 212 212 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus flavus specific region of 28S No No unknown 26 GACCAGACTC GCCTCCAGGG TTCAGCCGGC ATTCGTGCCG GTGTACTTCC 50 CTGGGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCTCCCGGAA 100 TGTAGTGCCC TYCGGGGCAC CTTATAGCCG GGAGTGCAAT GCGGCCAGCC 150 TGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCACGGACG CTGGCATAAT GGTCGYAAAC 200 GACCCGTCTT GA 212 212 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus fumigatus specific region of 28S No No unknown 27 GACCAGACTC GCCCGCGGGG TTCAGCCGGC ATTCGTGCCG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGTGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCCTCGGAA 100 TGTATCACCT CTCGGGGTGT CTTATAGCCG AGGGTGCAAT GCGGCCTGCC 150 TGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCTCGGACG CTGGCGTAAT GGTCGTAAAT 200 GACCCGTCTT GA 212 212 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus glaucus specific region of 28S No No unknown 28 GACCAGACTC GCTTCCGGGG TTCAGCCGGC TTTCGGGCCG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGGGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCCCTGGAA 100 TGTAACGCCT CTCGGGGCGC CTTATAGCCA GGGGTGTCAT GCGGCCAGCC 150 TGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCACGGACG CTGGCATAAT GGTCGTAAAC 200 GACCCGTCTT GA 212 213 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus nidulans specific region of 28S No No unknown 29 GACCAGACTC GGCCCCGGGG TTCARCCAGC ACTCGTGCTG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGGGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCCCAGGAA 100 TGTATCGCCC TCCGGGGTTG TCTTATAGCC TGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC 150 CCGGACCGAG GAACGCGCTT CGGCACGGAC GCTGGCGTAA TGGTCGCAAA 200 CGACCCGTCT TGA 213 212 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus niger specific region of 28S No No unknown 30 GACCAGACTC GCCCGCGGGG TTCAGCCGGC ATTCGTGCCG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGTGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCCCTGGAA 100 TGTAGTRCCC TCCGGGGYAC CTTATAGCCA GGGGTGCAAT GCGGCCAGCC 150 TGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCACGGACG CTGGCATAAT GGTCGTAAAC 200 GACCCGTCTT GA 212 212 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus ochraceus specific region of 28S No No unknown 31 GACCAGACTC GCCCGCGGGG TTCAGCCGGC ATTCGTGCCG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGCGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCCCCGGAA 100 TGTAGCACCC TTCGGGGTGC CTTATAGCCG GGGGTGCAAT GCGGCCAGCC 150 TGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCACGGACG CTGGCATAAT GGTCGTAAAC 200 GACCCGTCTT GA 212 212 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus terreus specific region of 28S No No unknown 32 AACCAGACTC GCTCGCGGGG TTCAGCCGGG CTTCGGCCCG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGCGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCTCCGGAA 100 TGTAGCGCCC TTCGGGGCGC CTTATAGCCG GGGGTGCAAT GCGGCCAGCC 150 TGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCACGGACG CTGGCATAAT GGTTGTAAAC 200 GACCCGTCTT GA 212 213 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus unguis specific region of 28S No No unknown 33 GACCAGACTC GGCCTCGGGG TTCAGCCAGC ACTCGTGCTG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGGGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCCCAGGAA 100 TGTATCACCC TCCGGGGTTG TCTTATAGCC TGGGGTGCAA TGCGGCCAGC 150 CTGGACCGAG GAACGCGCTT CGGCACGGAC GCTGGCATAA TGGTTGCAAA 200 CGACCCGTCT TGA 213 212 nucleic acid single linear Aspergillus ustus specific region of 28S No No unknown 34 GACCAGACTC GGCCCCGGGG TTCAGCCAGC ACTCGTGCTG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGGGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGGCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCCCAGGAA 100 TGTGTCGCCC TCCGGGGCGT CTTATAGCCT GGGGTGCAAT GCGGCCAGCC 150 CGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCACGGACG CTGGCGTAAT GGTCGCAAAC 200 GACCCGTCTT GA 212 208 nucleic acid single linear Beauveria species specific region of 28S No No unknown 35 GACCAGACTT GGGCTTGGTT GATCATCCGG GGTTCTCCCC GGTGCACTCT 50 TCCGGCCCAG GCCAGCATCA GTTCGCCCTG GGGGACAAAG GCTTCGGGAA 100 CGTGGCTCTC TCCGGGGAGT GTTATAGCCC GTTGCGTAAT ACCCTGTGGC 150 GGACTGAGGT TCGCGCATTC GCAAGGATGC TGGCGTAATG GTCATCAGTG 200 ACCCGTCT 208 213 nucleic acid single linear Bipolaris species specific region of 28S No No unknown 36 AGCCAGACTT GCTTGCAGTT GCTCATCCGG GCTTTTGCCC GGTGCACTCT 50 TCTGCAGGCA GGCCAGCATC AGTTTGGGCG GTGGGATAAA GGTCTCTGTC 100 ACGTACCTTC CTTCGGGTTG GCCATATAGG GGAGACGTCA TACCACCAGC 150 CTGGACTGAG GTCCGCGCAT CTGCTAGGAT GCTGGCGTAA TGGCTGTAAG 200 CGGCCCGTCT TGA 213 105 nucleic acid single linear Blastoschizomyces species specific region of No No unknown 37 TGAAATTGTT GAAAGGGAAG GCGATGGTAG GAATAAGAGG CTGCGGTTTG 50 AAATAATTGT TTTTCGGGCC ACGGTCTCCT GAGCCTGCTT TCGCACCCGT 100 CTTGA 105 214 nucleic acid single linear Blastomyces dermatitidis specific region of No No unknown 38 GACCAGAGTC GGCCGTGGGG GTTCAGCGGG CATTCGTTGC CCGTGCACTC 50 CCCCACGGGC GGGCCAGCGT CGGTTTCGAC GGCCGGTCAA AGGCCCCCGG 100 AATGTGTCGC CTCTCGGGGC GTCTTATAGC CGGGGGTGCA ATGCGGCCAG 150 TCGGGACCGA GGAACGCGCT TCGGCACGGA CGCTGGCTTA ATGGTCGTAA 200 GCGACCCGTC TTGA 214 213 nucleic acid single linear Chrysosporium species specific region of 28S No No unknown 39 AACCAGACTT GCGCGCGGCC GATCATCCGG TGTTCTCACC GGTGCACTCG 50 GCCGTGCTCA GGCCAGCATC GGTTTTGGCG GCTGGATAAA GGCCCTAGGA 100 ATGTGGCTCC TCTCGGGGAG TGTTATAGCC TAGGGTGCAA TGCAGCCTGC 150 TGGGACCGAG GACCGCGCTT CGGCTAGGAT GCTGGCGTAA TGGTTGTAAG 200 CGGCCCGTCT TGA 213 207 nucleic acid single linear Cladosporium species specific region of 28S No No unknown 40 AACCAGACTT GCTCGCGGTG TTCCGCCGGT CTTCTGACCG GTCTACTCGC 50 CGCGTTGCAG GCCAGCATCG TCTGGTGCCG CTGGATAAGA CTTGAGGAAT 100 GTAGCTCCCT CGGGAGTGTT ATAGCCTCTT GTGATGCAGC GAGCGCCGGG 150 CGAGGTCCGC GCTTCGGCTA GGATGCTGGC GTAATGGTCG TAATCCGCCC 200 GTCTTGA 207 213 nucleic acid single linear Curvularia species specific region of 28S No No unknown 41 AGCCAGACTT GCTTGCAGTT GCTCATCCGG GCTTTTGCCC GGTGCACTCT 50 TCTGCAGGCA GGCCAGCATC AGTTTGGGCG GTGGGATAAA GGTCTCTGAC 100 ACGTTCCTTC CTTCGGGTTG GCCATATAGG GGAGACGTCA TACCACCAGC 150 CTGGACTGAG GTCCGCGCAT CTGCTAGGAT GCTGGCGTAA TGGCTGTAAG 200 CGGCCCGTCT TGA 213 213 nucleic acid single linear Candida albicans specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 42 GATCAGACTT GGTATTTTGC ATGCTGCTCT CTCGGGGGCG GCCGCTGCGG 50 TTTACCGGGC CAGCATCGGT TTGGAGCGGC AGGATAATGG CGGAGGAATG 100 TGGCACGGCT TCTGCTGTGT GTTATAGCCT CTGACGATGC TGCCAGCCTA 150 GACCGAGGAC TGCGGTTTTT AACCTAGGAT GTTGGCATAA TGATCTTAAG 200 TCGCCCGTCT TGA 213 223 nucleic acid single linear Candida glabrata specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 43 GATCAGACAT GGTGTTTTGC GCCCCTTGCC TCTCGTGGGC TTGGGACTCT 50 CGCAGCTCAC TGGGCCAGCA TCGGTTTTGG CGGCCGGAAA AAACCTAGGG 100 AATGTGGCTC TGCGCCTCGG TGTAGAGTGT TATAGCCCTG GGGAATACGG 150 CCAGCCGGGA CCGAGGACTG CGATACTTGT TATCTAGGAT GCTGGCATAA 200 TGGTTATATG CCGCCCGTCT TGA 223 212 nucleic acid single linear Candida guilliermondii specific region of 28S No No unknown 44 GATCAGACTC GATATTTTGT GAGCCTTGCC TTCGTGGCGG GGTGACCCGC 50 AGCTTATCGG GCCAGCATCG GTTTGGGCGG TAGGATAATG GCGTAGGAAT 100 GTGACTTTRC TTCGGTGAAG TGTTATAGCC TGCGTTGATG CTGCCTGCCT 150 AGACCGAGGA CTGCGATTTT ATCAAGGATG CTGGCATAAT GATCCCAAAC 200 CGCCCGTCTT GA 212 214 nucleic acid single linear Coccidioides immitis specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 45 AACCAGACTC GGTCGTGGGG GCTCAGCGGG CATGAGTGCC CGTGTACTCC 50 CCCATGCTCC GGGCCAGCAT CAGTTCTGGC GGTTGGTTAA AGGCCTCTGG 100 AATGTATCGT CCTCCGGGAC GTCTTATAGC CAGGGGCGCA ATGCGGCCAG 150 CCGGGACTGA GGAACGCGCT TCGGCACGGA TGCTGGCATA ATGGTTGTAA 200 GCGGCCCGTC TTGA 214 187 nucleic acid single linear Candida kefyr specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 46 GATCAGACAT GGCGTTTGCT TCGGCTTTCG CTGGGCCAGC ATCAGTTTTA 50 GCGGTTGGAT AAATCCTCGG GAATGTGGCT CTGCTTCGGT AGAGTGTTAT 100 AGCCCGTGGG AATACAGCCA GCTGGGACTG AGGATTGCGA CTTTTGTCAA 150 GGATGCTGGC GTAATGGTTA AATGCCGCCC GTCTTGA 187 213 nucleic acid single linear Candida krusei specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 47 CGCCCGACAT GGGGATTGCG CACCGCTGCC TCTCGTGGGC GGCGCTCTGG 50 GCTTTCCCTG GGCCAGCATC GGTTCTTGCT GCAGGAGAAG GGGTTCTGGA 100 ACGTGGCTCT TCGGAGTGTT ATAGCCAGGG CCAGATGCTG CGTGCGGGGA 150 CCGAGGACTG CGGCCGTGTA GGTCACGGAT GCTGGCAGAA CGGCGCAACA 200 CCGCCCGTCT TGA 213 236 nucleic acid single linear Cryptococcus laurentii specific region of 28S No No unknown 48 AGTCAGTCGT GTCTGGGAGG CTCAGCCGGT TCTGCCGGTG TATTCCTCTC 50 AGACGGGTCA ACATCAGTTT TGTCCGACGG ATAATGGCGG CGGGAAAGTA 100 GCACCTCCGG GTGTGTTATA GCCCGCTGTC GCATACGCCG GATGAGACTG 150 AGGCATGCAG CTCGCCTTTA TGGCAGGGGT TCGCCCACTT TCGAGCTTAG 200 GATGTTGACG TAATGGCTTT AAACGACCCG TCTTGA 236 173 nucleic acid single linear Candida lusitaniae specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 49 AAGCAGACAC GGTTTTACCG GGCCAGCGTC GAAAAGGGGG GAGGAACAAG 50 AACTCGAGAA TGTGGCGCGC ACCTTCGGGY GCGCGTGTTA TAGCTCGTGT 100 TGACGCCTCC ATCCCTTTTC GAGGCCTGCG ATTCTAGGAC GCTGGCGTAA 150 TGGTTGCAAG CCGCCCGTCT TGA 173 238 nucleic acid single linear Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii No No unknown 50 AGTCAGTCGT GTCTATTGGG TTCAGCCAGC TCTGCTGGTG TATTCCCTTT 50 AGACGGGTCA ACATCAGTTC TGATCGGTGG ATAAGGGCTG GAGGAATGTG 100 GCACTCTTCG GGGTGTGTTA TAGCCTCCTG TCGCATACAC TGGTTGGGAC 150 TGAGGAATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTTCGAGCTT 200 AGGATGTTGA CAAAATGGCT TTAAACGACC CGTCTTGA 238 238 nucleic acid single linear Cryptococcus neoformans (serotype A) specific No No unknown 51 AGTCAGTCGT GTCTATTGGG TTCAGCCAGT TCTGCTGGTG TATTCCCTTT 50 AGACGGGTCA ACATCAGTTC TGATCGGTGG ATAAGGGCTG GGGGAATGTA 100 GCACTCTTCG GAGTGTGTTA TAGCCTCCTG TCGCATACAC TGGTTGGGAC 150 TGAGGAATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTTCGAGCTT 200 AGGATGTTGA CAAAATGGCT TTAAACGACC CGTCTTGA 238 211 nucleic acid single linear Candida parapsilosis specific region of 28S No No unknown 52 GATCAGACTT GGTATTTTGT ATGTTACTCT CTCGGGGGTG GCCTCTACAG 50 TTTACCGGGC CAGCATCAGT TTGAGCGGTA GGATAAGTGC AAAGAAATGT 100 GGCACTGCTT CGGTAGTGTG TTATAGTCTT TGTCGATACT GCCAGCTTAG 150 ACTGAGGACT GCGGCTTCGG CCTAGGATGT TGGCATAATG ATCTTAAGTC 200 GCCCGTCTTG A 211 238 nucleic acid single linear Cryptococcus terreus specific region of 28S No No unknown 53 AGTCAGTCAT GTCTATTGGA CTCAGCCGGT TCTGCCGGTG TACTTCCTTT 50 AGATGGGGTC AACATCAGTT TTGATCGCTG GAAAAGGGCA GGAGGAATGT 100 AGCACTCTCG GGTGAACTTA TAGCCTTCTG TCGTATACAG TGGTTGGGAC 150 TGAGGAACGC AGCATGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTACATGCTT 200 AGGATGTTGA CATAATGGCT TTAAACGACC CGTCTTGA 238 211 nucleic acid single linear Candida tropicalis specific region of 28S No No unknown 54 GATCAGACTT GGTATTTTGT ATGTTACTTC TTCGGGGGTG GCCTCTACAG 50 TTTATCGGGC CAGCATCAGT TTGGGCGGTA GGAGAATTGC GTTGGAATGT 100 GGCACGGCTT CGGTTGTGTG TTATAGCCTT CGTCGATACT GCCAGCCTAG 150 ACTGAGGACT GCGGTTTATA CCTAGGATGT TGGCATAATG ATCTTAAGTC 200 GCCCGTCTTG A 211 211 nucleic acid single linear Fusarium species specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 55 GACCAGACTT GGGCTTGGTT AATCATCTGG GGTTCTCYCC AGTGCACTTT 50 TCCAGTCCAG GCCAGCATCA GTTTTCSCCG GGGGATAAAG RCTTCGGGAA 100 TGTGGCTCYC YYCGGGGAGT GTTATAGCCC GTTGYGTAAT ACCCTGGBGG 150 GGACTGAGGT TCGCGCWTCT GCAAGGATGC TGGCGTAATG GTCATCAACG 200 ACCCGTCTTG A 211 238 nucleic acid single linear Filobasidium capsuligenum specific region of No No unknown 56 AGTCAGTCAT GTCTATTGGA CTCAGCCGGT TCTGCCGGTG TATTTCCTTT 50 AGATGGGGTC AACATCAGTT TTGACCGTTG GATAAAGGCA GGAAGAATGT 100 AGCACTCTCG GGTGAACTTA TAGCTTCTTG TCACATACAA TGGTTGGGAC 150 TGAGGAACGC AGCATGCCTT TATGGCCGGG ATTCGTCCAC GTACATGCTT 200 AGGATGTTGA CATAATGGCT TTAAACGACC CGTCTTGA 238 238 nucleic acid single linear Filobasidiella neoformans var bacillis No No unknown 57 AGTCAGTCGT GTCTATTGGG TTCAGCCAGC TCTGCTGGTG TATTCCCTTT 50 AGACGGGTCA ACATCAGTTC TGATCGGTGG ATAAGGGCTG GAGGAATGTG 100 GCACTCTTCG GGGTGTGTTA TAGCCTCCTG TCGCATACAC TGGTTGGGAC 150 TGAGGAATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTTCGAGCTT 200 AGGATGTTGA CAAAATGGCT TTAAACGACC CGTCTTGA 238 238 nucleic acid single linear Filobasidiella neoformans var neofor No No unknown 58 AGTCAGTCGT GTCTATTGGG TTCAGCCAGT TCTGCTGGTG TATTCCCTTT 50 AGACGGGTCA ACATCAGTTC TGATCGGTGG ATAAGGGCTG GAGGAATGTG 100 GCACTCTTCG GGGTGTGTTA TAGCCTCCTG TCGCATACAC TGGTTGGGAC 150 TGAGGAATGC AGCTCGCCTT TATGGCCGGG GTTCGCCCAC GTTCGAGCTT 200 AGGATGTTGA CAAAATGGCT TTAAACGACC CGTCTTGA 238 236 nucleic acid single linear Filobasidium uniguttulatum specific regio No No unknown 59 AGTCAGTCGT GCTCAATGGA CTCAGCCGTT CTGCGGTGTA TTTCCATTGG 50 GTGGGGTCAA CATCAGTTTT GATCGCTGGA TAAAGGCAGG AGGAATGTAG 100 CACCCCCGGG TGAACTTATA GCCTCTTGTC ACATACAGTG GTTGGGACTG 150 AGGAACGCAG CATGCCTTTA TGGCCGGGAT TCGTCCACGT ACATGCTTAG 200 GATGTTGACA TAATGGCTTT AAACGACCCG TCTTGA 236 204 nucleic acid single linear Geotrichum species specific region of 28S g No unknown 60 AATCAGACTT GGTGCTGTTG TTCAACTRTG TTTCGGCATA GTGTACTCAG 50 CAGTACTAGG CCAAGGTGGG GTGTTTGGGA GTGAAAAAGA AGTAGGAACG 100 TAACTCTTCG GAGTGTTATA GCCTACTTTC ATAGCTCCTC AGGCGCCTCA 150 GGACTGCGCT TCGGCAAGGA CCTTGGCATA ATGATTCTAT ACCGCCCGTC 200 TTGA 204 214 nucleic acid single linear Histoplasma capsulatum specific region of No No unknown 61 GAYCAGAGTC GGCCGYGGGG GTTCAGCGGG CATTCGTTGC CCGTGCAATC 50 CCCCGCGGCC GGGCCAGCGT CGGTTTCGAC GGCCGGTCAA AGGCCCCCGG 100 AATGTGTCGC CTCTCGGGGC GTCTTATAGC CGGGGGTGCA ATGCGGCCAG 150 TCGGGACCGA GGAACGCGCT CCGGCACGGA CGCTGGCTTA ATGGTCGTCA 200 GCGACCCGTC TTGA 214 215 nucleic acid single linear Malbranchea species specific region of 28S g No unknown 62 AGACAGACTC GAGCGCGGGG GCTCAGCGGG TATTGTTATG CCCGTGCACT 50 CCCCCGCGCC CGGGCCAGCA TCAGTTTTGG CGGCCGGTCA AAGGCCCTTG 100 GAATGTATCG TCCTCCGGGA CGTCTTATAG CCAAGGGTGC AATGCGGCCA 150 GCCGGGACTG AGGAACGCGC TTCGGCACGG ATGCTGGCGT AATGGCTGTA 200 AGCGGCCCGT CTTGA 215 237 nucleic acid single linear Mucor species specific region of 28S g No unknown 63 AGCCAGACTG GTTTGACTGT AATCAACCTA GAATTCGTTC TGGGTGCACT 50 TGCAGTCTAT ACCTGCCAAC AACAGTTTGA TTTGGAGGAA AAAATTAGTA 100 GGAATGTAGC CTCTCGAGGT GTTATAGCCT ACTATCATAC TCTGGATTGG 150 ACTGAGGAAC GCAGCGAATG CCWTTAGGCR AGATTGCTGG GTGCTTTCGC 200 TAATAAATGT TAGAATTTCT GCTTCGGGTG GTGCTAA 237 209 nucleic acid single linear Paecilomyces species specific region of 28S g No unknown 64 GACCAGACTT GGGCCCGGTG GATCATCCAG CGTTCTCGCT GGTGCACTCC 50 GCCGGGTTCA GGCCAGCATC AGTTCGCCGC GGGGGAAAAA GGCTTCGGGA 100 ACGTGGCTCC TACGGGAGTG TTATAGCCCG TTGCATAATA CCCTGGGGCG 150 GACTGAGGTT CGCGCTCCGC AAGGATGCTG GCGTAATGGT CATCAGCGAC 200 CCGTCTTGA 209 199 nucleic acid single linear Penicillium species specific region of 28S g No unknown 65 GACCAGACTC GCCCACGGGG TTCAGCCGGC ATTCGTGCCG GTGTACTTCC 50 CCGCGGGCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTGGKCGG CCGGTCAAAG GCCCTCGGAA 100 TRTAACGCCC CCCGGGGCGT CTTATAGCCG AGGGTGCCAT GCGGCCAGCM 150 CAGACCGAGG AACGCGCTTC GGCTCGGACG CTGGCATAAT GGTCGTAAA 199 210 nucleic acid single linear Pseudallescheria boydii region of 28S gene. No No unknown 66 GACCAGACTT GTGCCCGTCG AATCAGCCGC CGCTCGTCGG CGGCGCACTT 50 CGGCGGGCTC AGGCCAGCAT CAGTTCGCTG CAGGGGGAGA AAGGCGATGG 100 GAATGTGGCT CTTCGGAGTG TTATAGCCCG CCGCGCAATA CCCCTCGGCG 150 GACTGAGGAC CGCGCATCTG CAAGGATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGTCAGCGA 200 CCCGTCTTGA 210 244 nucleic acid single linear Rhizopus species (NO 1) specific region of No No unknown 67 AGCCAGACTG GCTTGTCTGT AATCAATCTA GGTTTCGTGC CTGGATGCAC 50 TTGCAGACTA TTTGCCTGCC AACGACAATT TTTTTTGAGT GTAAAAACTA 100 TTGGAAATGT GGCCAATATT TATTTATTGG TGTTATAGTC CTTTAGAAAA 150 TACCTTGAAT TGGATTGAGG AACGCAGCGA ATGCTTCTCT TTNGAGGCAA 200 AGTCTTTTAT TGGGATTTAC GGATCAGACT GTGGCATTGT CACA 244 215 nucleic acid single linear Rhizopus species (NO 2) specific region of 28S No No unknown 68 AGCCAGACTG GCTTGTCTGT AATCAATCTA GGCTTCGGCC TGGATGCACT 50 TGCAGGCTAT GCCTGCCAAC GACAATTTGA CTTGAGGGAA AAAACTAGGG 100 GAAATGTGGC CCACTTGTGG GTGTTATAGT CCCTTAGAAA ATACCTTGGG 150 TTGGATTGAG GAACGCAGCG AATGCTTATT GGCGAGTTTT CCAGGAAGGT 200 TTTCTGAGGT ACTAC 215 215 nucleic acid single linear Rhizopus species (NO 3) specific region of 28S No No unknown 69 AGCCAGACTG GCTTGTCTGT AATCAGTCTA AGCTTCGGCT TGGATGCACT 50 TGCAGGCTAT GCCTGCCAAC GACAATTTGG CTTGAGGGAA AAAACTAAGG 100 GAAATGTGGC CCATCCGTGG GTGTTATAGT CCCTTAGAAA ATACCTTGGG 150 CTGGATTGAG GTACGCAGCG AATGCTATTT GGCGAGTTGG CTGGGAATAT 200 TTTCTGAGGT GCTTT 215 210 nucleic acid single linear Sporothrix species specific region of 28S gene. No No unknown 70 GACCAGACTT GCGCCYCGCG GACCACCCGG CGTTCTCGCC GGTGCACTCT 50 GCGKKGCGCA GGCCAGCATC GGTTCTCCCA GGGGGACAAA GGCCGCGGGA 100 ACGTAGCTCC TTCGGGAGTG TTATAGCCCG CGGCGGCATG CCCCTGGGGG 150 GACCGAGGAC CGCGCTTCGG CAAGGATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCACCAGCGA 200 ACCGTCTTGA 210 208 nucleic acid single linear Scopulariopsis brevicaulis specific region of No No unknown 71 GACCAGACTT GCGCCCGTCG GATCAACCGT CGCTTGCGGC GGCGCACTCC 50 GGCGGGCTCA GGCCAGCATC AGTTCGTCCG GGGGGAGAAA GGCGGCGGGA 100 ATGTGGCTCT TCGGAGTGTT ATAGCCCGCC GTGTAATACC CTCGGGTGGA 150 CTGAGGACCG CGCGTATGCA AGGATGCTGG CGTAATGGTC GTCAGCGACC 200 CGTCTTGA 208 210 nucleic acid single linear Scopulariopsis brumptii specific region of 28S No No unknown 72 GACCAGACTC GCGCCCGTCG GATCAGCCGT CGCTCGTCGG CGGCGCACTC 50 CGGCGGGCTC GGGCCAGCAT CAGTTCGCCT CGGGGGGAGA AAGGCGGCGG 100 GAATGTGGCT CTACGGAGTG TTATAGCCCG CCGCGTAATA CCCCCGGGCG 150 GACTGAGGAC CGCGCGTATG CAAGGATGCT GGCGTAATGG TCGTCAGCGA 200 CCCGTCTTGA 210 214 nucleic acid single linear Saccharomyces cerevisiae specific region of 28S No No unknown 73 GATCAGACAT GGTGTTTTGT GCCCTCTGCT CCTTGTGGGT AGGGGAATCT 50 CGCATTTCAC TGGGCCAGCA TCAGTTTTGG TGGCAGGATA AATCCATAGG 100 AATGTAGCTT GCCTCGGTAA GTATTATAGC CTGTGGGAAT ACTGCCAGCT 150 GGGACTGAGG ACTGCGACGT AAGTCAAGGA TGCTGGCATA ATGGTTATAT 200 GCCGCCCGTC TTGA 214 236 nucleic acid single linear Trichosporon beigelii specific region of No No unknown 74 AGTCAGTCGT GTTCTTTGGA TTCAGCCAGT TCTGCTGGTC TACTTCCTTG 50 GAACGGGTCA ACATCAGTTT TGTCCGGTGG ATAAAGGTAG TAGGAATGTG 100 ACTTCTCCGG AAGTGTTATA GCCTATTATC ACATACACTG GGTGAGACTG 150 AGGACTGCAG CTCGCCTTTA TGGCCGGCCT TCGGGCACGT TCGAGCTTAG 200 GATGTTGACA TAATGGCTTT AAACGACCCG TCTTGA 236 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Paracoccidioides No No unknown 75 ACTCCCCCGT GGTC 14 14 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic acid probe for Pneumocystis carinii No No unknown 76 GGAAGGGAAA TTGG 14 223 nucleic acid single linear Paracoccidioides brasiliensis specific region of No No unknown 77 GCGCTTGCGA CCAGAGTCGG CCGCGGGGGC TCAGCGGGCA CTCGTTGCCC 50 GTGCACTCCC CCGTGGTCGG GCCAGCGTCG GTTTCGACGG CCGGTCAAAG 100 GCCCCCGGAA TGTGTCGCCT CTCGGGGCGT CTTATAGCCG GGGGTGCAAT 150 GCGGCCAGTC GGGACCGAGG AACGCGCTCC GGCACGGACG CTGGCTTAAT 200 GGTCGTAAGC GACCCGTCTT GAA 223 257 nucleic acid single linear Pneumocystis carinii specific region of No No unknown 78 GCGCTTGTGA TCAGACATGC CTTTATAGGA GATGCCATTG TTTCGGCATT 50 GGCAGTATTA TCCGAATTGG CAGGCCAGCA TCGGTTTCAG TTACTGGATA 100 AAACTGGAAG AAGGTAGGCT CTCTTCGGAG GGTTTTTTAG CTTCCAGTAG 150 CTGCAGTGAC CGGGACCGGA AGGGAAATTG GGTCTTTGAA GACCTTATGA 200 TGTTGGCAGA AATGGTCCTA AGCGACCCGT CTTGAAACAC GGACCAAGGA 250 GTCTAAT 257 20 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic Acid Primer No No unknown 79 ATCAATAAGC GGAGGAAAAG 20 19 nucleic acid single linear Nucleic Acid Primer No No unknown 80 CTCTGGCTTC ACCCTATTC 19 

We claim:
 1. An oligonucleotide fungal species specific hybridization probe for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, said probe having the nucleotide residue sequence of (SEQ ID NO: 75) or the complement thereof.
 2. An oligonucleotide fungal species specific hybridization probe for Pneumocystis carinii, said probe having the nucleotide residue sequence of (SEQ ID NO: 76) or the complement thereof.
 3. A method of determining whether one or more fungal species selected from the group of fungal species consisting of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Pneumocystis carinii is present in a sample of fungi, said method comprising the following steps: a) extracting nucleic acid material from fungi contained in said sample; b) adding two known oligonucleotide primers, one of said primers being (SEQ ID NO: 1), said primers bracketing a hypervariable region on the 28S rDNA or rRNA present in the fungal species of said group; c) amplifying the sequence between said primers; and d) using one or more labeled probes directed to a portion of the hypervariable region bracketed by said primers, each said labeled probe being specific for one of said fungal species from said group, to determine whether said fungal species identified by each said labeled probe is present in said sample.
 4. The method of claim 3 in which, in said amplifying step, said amplifying procedure is the polymerase chain reaction.
 5. The method of claim 3 in which said one or more probes is selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 75) and (SEQ ID NO: 76).
 6. The method of claim 3 wherein, in step (d), more than one probe is used, each said probe being connected to (a) a different signal moiety or (b) a moiety which allows separation of said probes.
 7. A method of determining whether one or more fungal species selected from the group of fungal species consisting of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Pneumocystis carinii is present in a sample of fungi, said method comprising the following steps: a) extracting nucleic acid material from fungi contained in said sample; b) adding a universal fungal probe selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 1), and the complements thereof; c) using one or more second probes, each said second probe being specific for one of said fungal species from said group, wherein said one or more second probes each has a nucleotide residue sequence selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 75), (SEQ ID NO:76) and the complements thereof; and d) determining whether said fungal species identified by each said second probe is present in said sample, wherein at least one of said probes is connected to a signal moiety and at least one of said probes is connected to a moiety that allows separation of said probes.
 8. A species specific reference oligonucleotide for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis having the nucleotide residue sequence of SEQ ID NO: 77 or the complement thereof.
 9. A species specific reference oligonucleotide for Pneumocystis carinii having the nucleotide residue sequence of SEQ ID NO: 78 or the complement thereof.
 10. A method of determining whether one or more fungal species selected from the group of fungal species consisting of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Pneumocystis carinii is present in a sample of fungi, said method comprising the following steps: a) extracting nucleic acid material from fungi contained in said sample; b) adding two known oligonucleotide primers, one of said primers being (SEQ ID NO: 1) or (SEQ ID NO: 2), said primers bracketing a hypervariable region on the 28S rDNA or rRNA present in the fungal species of said group; c) amplifying the sequence between said primers; and d) using one or more labeled probes directed to a portion of the hypervariable region bracketed by said primers, each said labeled probe being specific for one of said fungal species from said group, wherein each said one or more labeled probes is fully complementary to a species-unique nucleotide sequence in said hypervariable region, to determine whether said fungal species identified by each said labeled probe is present in said sample, wherein, furthermore, said one or more labeled probes each has a nucleotide residue sequence consisting of from 10 to 50 consecutive nucleotide residues from a sequence selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 77) and (SEQ ID NO: 78) and the complements thereof.
 11. A method of claim 10 in which said amplifying procedure is the polymerase chain reaction.
 12. A method of claim 10 wherein more than one third probe is used, each said third probe connected to a different signal moiety or moiety which allows separation of said third probe.
 13. A method of determining whether one or more fungal species selected from the group of fungal species consisting of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Pneumocystis carinii is present in a sample of fungi, said method comprising the following steps: a) extracting the nucleic acid material from the fungi contained in said sample; b) adding a universal fungal probe selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 1), (SEQ ID NO: 2) and the complements thereof; c) using one or more second probes, each said second probe being specific for one of said fungal species from said group, wherein each said one or more second probes is fully complementary to a species-unique nucleotide sequence in said hypervariable region and wherein, further, said one or more second probes each has a nucleotide residue sequence consisting of from 10 to 50 consecutive nucleotide residues from a sequence selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 77) and (SEQ ID NO: 78) and the complements thereof; and d) determining whether said fungal species identified by each said second probe is present in said sample, wherein at least one of said probes is connected to a signal moiety and at least one of said probes is connected to a moiety that allows separation of said probes. 